4-  j>- 

BS197. 

.Z 

.BSl 


BIBLE  STORIES 

IN  BIBLE  LANGUAGE 


Moses. 
Michael  Angela.    S.  Pietro  in  Vincoli,  Borne. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

IN  BIBLE  LANGUAGE 

(The  King  James  Version) 

ARRANGED  AND  EDITED  BY 

LORINDA  MUNSON  BRYANT 

AUTHOR  OF  "AX[ERICAN  PICTURES  AND  THEIR  PAINTERS," 
"FRENCH  PICTURES  AND  THEIR  PAINTERS,"  "THE 
children's      book      of      CELEBRATED     PICTURES,"      ETC. 


D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK    ::    LONDON     ::    MCMXXII 


COPYRIGHT,  1922,  BY 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 


PRINTED    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA 


TO 
THE    CHILDREN 
OF  THE  WORLD 


INTRODUCTION 

Bible  stories  have  a  special  fascination  for 
children;  and  when  these  stories,  printed  in  large 
type,  are  lifted  out  from  the  cumbersome  genealo- 
gies and  long  names  of  minor  characters  the  child 
is  as  eager  to  read  them  as  to  read  fairy  tales. 
The  simple  English  of  the  King  James  Version, 
with  its  repeated  words  and  phrases,  has  just  the 
element  of  directness  that  catches  the  understand- 
ing of  the  child. 

This  collection  of  Bible  Stories  in  Bible  Lan- 
guage is  taken  unchanged  from  the  familiar  and 
beloved  Bible  of  our  homes,  with  nothing  added 
to,  nor  taken  from,  the  original  text.  The  King 
James  Version  of  the  Bible  was  made  in  1611. 
The  Old  Testament,  however,  was  not  divided  into 
verses  until  1661,  fifty  years  after  its  translation 
into  English.  Unfortunately  the  verses  do  not 
correspond  to  the  punctuation  of  the  original  text. 
I  have,  therefore,  done  away  with  the  verses  and 
paragraphed  the  stories  according  to  the  Temple 
Bible — an  edition  printed  at  the  beginning  of  the 
twentieth  century  and  edited  by  English  and 
American  scholars.  But  let  me  repeat :  No  word 
has  been  changed  from  the  King  James  Version. 


INTRODUCTION 

Surely  these  marvelous  stories,  told  so  simply 
and  vividly  about  people  who  lived  in  Bible  lands 
thousands  of  years  ago,  have  just  the  same  inter- 
est to-day,  for  they  are  stories  which  apply  to 
real  life.  Every  child  and  adult  of  the  schools 
and  homes  of  the  world  to-day  should  become 
familiar  with  Bible  Stories  in  Bible  Language. 
The  underlying  principle  in  the  stories  is  elemen- 
tal and  forms  the  foundation  of  all  literature. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Creation 1 

The  Garden  of  Eden 5 

Adam  and  Eve  Driven  from  the  Garden  ...  8 

Cain  and  Abel 8 

Building  the  Ark 12 

The  Flood 13 

The  Ark  on  Ararat 15 

The  Rainbow  Promise 17 

The  Tower  of  Babel 18 

Three  Angels  Visit  Abraham 19 

Destruction  of  Sodom  Revealed  to  Abraham    .  21 

Lot'sWifeBecomes  A  Pillar  of  Salt  .      ...  23 

IsHMAEL,  Isaac's  Half  Brother,  Is  Sent  Away  26 

God  Tests  Abraham 29 

Purchase  of  Machpelah 32 

Isaac  and  Rebekah 34 

Esau  Selleth  His  Birthright 41 

Jacob  Steals  Esau's  Blessing  ......  42 

Vision  of  Jacob's  Ladder ,      .  46 

Jacob  Loves  Rachel >      .  50 

Jacob  Is  Called  Israel „     .  54 

The  Twelve  Sons  of  Jacob 55 

Joseph's  Dreams .  56 

Joseph's  Brothers  Sell  Him 57 

Joseph  in  Egypt 61 

Joseph  Falsely  Accused 62 

Joseph  Interpreteth  Pharaoh's  Dreams      .      .  65 

Joseph  Lays  up  Corn  in  Egypt 69 

xi 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Joseph's  Ten  Brothers  Come  to  Buy  Corn  .      .  70 

Benjamin  Goes  to  Egypt 73 

The  Silver  Cup 76 

JuDAH  Pleads  for  Benjamin 78 

Joseph  Says  to  His  Brothers,  ' '  I  Am  Joseph  "  .•  80 

Jacob  Comes  to  See  Joseph 83 

Moses  Hid  Among  the  Flags 85 

Moses  Kills  an  Egyptian 86 

God  Calls  Moses 88 

Moses'  Rod  Becomes  a  Serpent 91 

Bricks  Without  Straw 93 

Aaron's  Rod  Swallows  the  Other  Rods  ...  95 

First  Plague — Water  Turned  to  Blood  ...  96 

Second  Plague — Frogs 98 

Third  Plague — ^Lice 99 

Fourth  Plague — Flies 100 

Fifth  Plague — Murrain  of  Beasts     ....  101 

Sixth  Plague — Boils 102 

Seventh  Plague — Hail 103 

Eighth  Plague — Locusts 105 

Ninth  Plague — Darkness 108 

The  Story  op  the  Passover 109 

Tenth  Plague — The  Firstborn  Slain      .     .      .  Ill 

The  Egyptians  Are  Drowned  .      .      .    '  .      .      .  112 

Moses'  Upheld  Hands  Win  the  Battle    .      .      .  117 

Miriam  Becomes  a  Leper 118 

The  Brazen  Serpent 119 

Moses'  Rod  Brings  Water  from  the  Rock     .      .  120 

The  Golden  Calf 121 

Balaam's  Ass  Speaks 127 

Moses  Vieweth  the  Promised  Land     .     .      .     .  131 

xii 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Rahab  and  the  Spies 133 

The  Walls  of  Jericho  Fall  Down     ....  138 

The  Gibeonites'  Craft 141 

The  Sun  and  Moon  Stand  Still 144 

The  Lefthanded  Man 146 

Jael  Killeth  Sisera 148 

Gideon's  Fleece 151 

Gideon's  Three  Hundred  Men 151 

The  Trees  Choose  a  King 154 

Jephthah's  Rash  V'ow 155 

An  Angel  Comes  to  Samson's  Parents  .      .      .  157 

Samson  's  Marriage  and  Riddle 159 

Samson's  Revenge  on  the  Philistines    .      .      .  162 

Delilah  Betrayeth  Samson 164 

The  Stolen  Wives 168 

Ruth 170 

God  Calleth  Samuel 179 

David  and  Goliath 183 

Saul  Hates  David 190 

Saul  Seeks  to  Kill  David     .......  193 

David  and  Jonathan  Swear  Friendship  .      ,      „  195 

David  Spareth  Saul's  Life .  198 

The  Story  of  Nabal  .      ; .  200 

Saul  and  the  Witch  of  Endor 206 

David  Sins  Against  Uriah 209 

Nathan's  Parable  of  the  Ewe  Lamb  ....  212 

The  Story  of  Absalom 215 

Rizpah's  Care  for  the  Dead 222 

Giant  with  Six  Fingers  and  Six  Toes     .      .     .  224 

The  Cave  of  Adullam 225 

Solomon  Judges  Wisely 226 

xiii 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Queen  of  Sheba 229 

The  Disobedient  Prophet 231 

Elijah  Fed  by  Ravens 235 

Elijah  and  the  Priests  of  Baal 238 

God  Appeareth  to  Elijah  in  Horeb     ....  243 

Elijah  Taken  Up  in  a  Chariot  of  Fire     .      .      .  245 

Elisha  Heals  the  Waters 248 

Elisha  Obtaineth  Water 249 

The  Widow's  Oil  Increased 252 

The  Widow's  Son  Restored 253 

Death  in  the  Pot 256 

Naaman's  Leprosy 257 

Iron  Swims 261 

An  Army  Struck  with  Blindness 261 

Women  Eat  Their  Own  Children 263 

Lepers  Enter  the  Camp 265 

Hazael  Killeth  His  Master 267 

Death  of  Jezebel 268 

The  Shadow  Returns  Ten  Degrees  ....  269 

Nehemiah  Builded  the  Wall  of  Jerusalem  .      .  271 

Jeremiah's  Linen  Girdle 273 

Jeremiah  in  the  Lower  Dungeon 274 

Esther 276 

Coming  to  Life  of  Dry  Bones 292 

Nebuchadnezzar's  Dream 295 

The  Fiery  Furnace 301 

Nebuchadnezzar  Did  Eat  Grass  as  Oxen  .      .      ,  305 

The  Writing  on  the  Wall 310 

Daniel  in  the  Lion's  Den 314 

Jonah 318 

Index 325 

xiv 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIGTJKE  PAGE 

Moses Frontispiece 

3Iichael  Angela  (1475-1564) 

1.  The  Creation  of  Adam  and  Eve     ....         3 

Raphael  (1483-1520) 

2.  Adam  and  Eve  Driven  From  the  Garden  of 

Eden 9 

Masaccio  (1402-1429) 

3.  The  Story  of  Cain  and  Abel 11 

Ghiherti  (1378-1455) 

4.  Abraham  and  the  Three  Angels     ....       20 

Memlinc  (abont  1430-1494) 

5.  Lot  Fleeing  From  Sodom 24 

Raphael 

6.  Hagar  and  Ishmael  Driven  From  Home     .      .       27 

Van  der  Werf  (1659-1722) 

7.  Abraham  Ready  to  Sacrifice  Isaac  ^     .     ,      .       30 

Ghiherti 

8.  Isaac  Blesses  Jacob 43 

Raphael 

9.  Jacob's  Dream 47 

Murillo  (1617-1682) 

10.  "And  Jacob  Kissed  Rachel"     .....       51 

Palma  Vecchio  (about  1480-1528) 

11.  Joseph  Sold  to  the  Ishmaelites 59 

Raphael 

12.  Moses  Waters  the  Sheep  for  Zipporah  ...       87 

Botticelli  (1444-1510) 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

•PIGTJHE  PAGE 

13.  Pharaoh  and  His  Army  Drowned  in  the  Red 

Sea 113 

Rosselli  (about  1439-1507) 

14.  Worshipping  the  Golden  Calf         ....     123 

Rosselli 

15.  The  Fall  of  Jericho 137 

Raphael 

16.  Manoah's  Sacrifice 158 

Rembrandt  (1606-1669) 

17.  The  Lord  Speaks  to  Samuel  ......     181 

Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  (1723-1792) 

18.  David  With  the  Head  of  Goliath    ....     184 

Yerrocchio  (1435-1488) 

19.  Abigail  Meeting  David  With  Presents  .      .      .     201 

Rubens  (1577-1640) 

20.  Solomon 's  Wise  Judgment 227 

Raphael 

21.  Solomon  and  the  Queen  of  Sheba    ....     230 

Raphael 

22.  Elijah  Taken  Up  in  a  Chariot  of  Fire  ...     246 

William  Blake  (1757-1827) 

23.  Jeremiah 273 

Michael  Angela 

24.  Vision  of  Ezekiel 293 

Raphael 


BIBLE  STORIES 

IN  BIBLE  LANGUAGE 


BIBLE    STORIES 

IN  BIBLE  LANGUAGE 

THE  CREATION 

(Genesis  i.  1-31;  ii.  1-4) 

111  the  beginning  God  created  the  heaven  and  the 
earth.  And  the  earth  was  without  form,  and  void ; 
and  darkness  ivas  upon  the  face  of  the  deep.  And 
the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the  face  of  the 
waters.  And  God  said,  Let  there  be  light:  and 
there  was  light.  And  God  saw  the  light,  that  it 
was  good:  and  God  divided  the  light  from  the 
darkness.  And  God  called  the  light  Day,  and  the 
darkness  he  called  Night.  And  the  evening  and 
the  morning  were  the  first  day. 

And  God  said,  Let  there  be  a  firmament  in  the 
midst  of  the  waters,  and  let  it  divide  the  waters 
from  the  waters.  And  God  made  the  firmament, 
and  divided  the  waters  which  ivere  under  the 
firmament  from  the  waters  which  were  above  the 
firmament:  and  it  was  so.  And  God  called  the 
firmament  Heaven.  And  the  evening  and  the 
morning  were  the  second  day. 

And  God  said,  Let  the  waters  under  the  heaven 
be  gathered  together  unto  one  place,  and  let  the 
dry  land  appear :  and  it  was  so.    And  God  called 

1 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  dry  land  Earth ;  and  the  gathering  together  of 
the  waters  called  he  Seas :  and  God  saw  that  it  ivas 
good.  And  God  said,  Let  the  earth  bring  forth 
grass,  the  herb  yielding  seed,  and  the  fruit  tree 
yielding  fruit  after  his  kind,  whose  seed  is  in  it- 
self, upon  the  earth:  and  it  was  so.  And  the 
earth  brought  forth  grass,  and  herb  yielding  seed 
after  his  kind,  and  the  tree  yielding  fruit,  whose 
seed  ivas  in  itself,  after  his  kind:  and  God  saw 
that  it  was  good.  And  the  evening  and  the  morn- 
ing were  the  third  day. 

And  God  said,  Let  there  be  lights  in  the  firma- 
ment of  the  heaven  to  divide  the  day  from  the 
night ;  and  let  them  be  for  signs,  and  for  seasons, 
and  for  days,  and  years :  and  let  them  be  for 
lights  in  the  firmament  of  the  heaven  to  give  light 
upon  the  earth :  and  it  was  so.  And  God  made  two 
great  lights ;  the  greater  light  to  rule  the  day,  and 
the  lesser  light  to  rule  the  night :  he  made  the  stars 
also.  And  God  set  them  in  the  firmament  of  the 
heaven  to  give  light  upon  the  earth,  and  to  rule 
over  the  day  and  over  the  night,  and  to  divide  the 
light  from  the  darkness :  and  God  saw  that  it  ivas 
good.  And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
fourth  day. 

And  God  said.  Let  the  waters  bring  forth  abun- 
dantly the  moving  creature  that  hath  life,  and 
fowl  that  may  fly  above  the  earth  in  the  open 
firmament  of  heaven.  And  God  created  great 
whales,  and  every  living  creature  that  moveth, 
which  the  waters  brought  forth  abundantly,  after 

2 


BIBLE  STORIES 

their  kind,  and  every  winged  fowl  after  his  kind : 
and  God  saw  that  it  ivas  good.  And  God  blessed 
them,  saying,  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  fill 
the  waters  in  the  seas,  and  let  fowl  multiply  in  the 


Fig.  1. — The  Creation  op  Adam  and  Eve, 
Baphael.    Loggia,  Vatican,  Rome. 

earth.     And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were 
the  fifth  day. 

And  God  said,  Let  the  earth  bring  forth  the 
living  creature  after  his  kind,  cattle,  and  creeping 
thing,  and  beast  of  the  earth  after  his  kind:  and 
it  was  so.  And  God  made  the  beast  of  the  earth 
after  his  kind,  and  cattle  after  their  kind,  and 
every  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth  after  his 

3 


BIBLE  STORIES 

kind:  and  God  saw  that  it  teas  good.  And  God 
said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our  like- 
ness :  and  let  them  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of 
the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  the 
cattle,  and  over  all  the  earth,  and  over  every  creep- 
ing thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth.  So  God 
created  man  in  his  own  image,  in  the  image  of 
God  created  he  him;  male  and  female  created  he 
them.  And  God  blessed  them,  and  God  said  unto 
them.  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the 
earth,  and  subdue  it :  and  have  dominion  over  the 
fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and 
over  every  living  thing  that  moveth  upon  the 
earth.  And  God  said.  Behold,  I  have  given  you 
every  herb  bearing  seed,  which  is  upon  the  face 
of  all  the  earth,  and  every  tree,  in  the  which  is  the 
fruit  of  a  tree  yielding  seed ;  to  you  it  shall  be  for 
meat.  And  to  every  beast  of  the  earth,  and  to 
every  fowl  of  the  air,  and  to  every  thing  that 
creepeth  upon  the  earth,  wherein  there  is  life,  / 
have  given  every  green  herb  for  meat:  and  it  was 
so.  And  God  saw  every  thing  that  he  had  made, 
and,  behold,  it  was  very  good.  And  the  evening 
and  the  morning  were  the  sixth  day. 

Thus  the  heavens  and  the  earth  were  finished, 
and  all  the  host  of  them.  And  on  the  seventh  day 
God  ended  his  work  which  he  had  made;  and  he 
rested  on  the  seventh  day  from  all  his  work  which 
he  had  made.  And  God  blessed  the  seventh  day, 
and  sanctified  it :  because  that  in  it  he  had  rested 
from  all  his  work  which  God  created  and  made. 

4 


BIBLE  STORIES 

THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN 

(Genesis  ii.  8-11;  iii.  15-17) 

Aiid  the  Lord  God  planted  a  garden  eastward 
in  Eden;  and  there  he  put  the  man  whom  he  had 
formed.  And  out  of  the  ground  made  the  Lord 
God  to  grow  every  tree  that  is  pleasant  to  the 
sight,  and  good  for  food;  the  tree  of  life  also  in 
the  midst  of  the  garden,  and  the  tree  of  knowledge 
of  good  and  evil.  And  a  river  went  out  of  Ederi 
to  water  the  garden;  and  from  thence  it  was 
parted,  and  became  into  four  heads. 

And  the  Lord  God  took  the  man,  and  put  him 
into  the  garden  of  Eden  to  dress  it  and  to  keep  it. 
And  the  Lord  God  commanded  the  man,  saying, 
Of  every  tree  of  the  garden  thou  mayest  freely 
eat :  but  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and 
evil,  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it:  for  in  the  day  that 
thou  eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die. 

Now  the  serpent  was  more  subtile  than  any 
beast  of  the  field  which  the  Lord  God  had  made. 
And  he  said  unto  the  woman.  Yea,  hath  God  said, 
Ye  shall  not  eat  of  every  tree  of  the  garden? 

And  the  woman  said  unto  the  serpent,  We  may 
eat  of  the  fruit  of  the  trees  of  the  garden :  but  of 
the  fruit  of  the  tree  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
garden,  God  hath  said,  Ye  shall  not  eat  of  it, 
neither  shall  ye  touch  it,  lest  ye  die. 

And  the  serpent  said  unto  the  woman,  Ye  shall 
not  surely  die :  for  God  doth  know  that  in  the  day 

5 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ye  eat  thereof,  then  your  eyes  shall  be  opened,  and 
ye  shall  be  as  gods,  knowing  good  and  evil. 

And  when  the  woman  saw  that  the  tree  ivas 
good  for  food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant  to  the  eyes, 
and  a  tree  to  be  desired  to  make  one  wise,  she  took 
of  the  fruit  thereof,  and  did  eat,  and  gave  also 
unto  her  husband  with  her ;  and  he  did  eat.  And 
the  eyes  of  them  both  were  opened,  and  they  knew 
that  they  were  naked;  and  they  sewed  fig  leaves 
together,  and  made  themselves  aprons.  And  they 
heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  walking  in  the 
garden  in  the  cool  of  the  day :  and  Adam  and  his 
wife  hid  themselves  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord  God  amongst  the  trees  of  the  garden. 

And  the  Lord  God  called  unto  Adam,  and  said 
unto  him.  Where  art  thou? 

And  he  said,  I  heard  thy  voice  in  the  garden, 
and  I  was  afraid,  because  I  was  naked ;  and  I  hid 
myself. 

And  he  said.  Who  told  thee  that  thou  wast 
naked?  Hast  thou  eaten  of  the  tree,  whereof  I 
commanded  thee  that  thou  shouldest  not  eat? 

And  the  man  said.  The  woman  whom  thou 
gavest  to  he  with  me,  she  gave  me  of  the  tree,  and 
I  did  eat. 

And  the  Lord  God  said  unto  the  woman,  What 
is  this  that  thou  hast  done? 

And  the  woman  said.  The  serpent  beguiled  me, 
and  I  did  eat. 

And  the  Lord  God  said  unto  the  serpent, 
Because   thou  hast  done  this,   thou   art   cursed 

6 


BIBLE  STORIES 

above  all  cattle,  and  above  every  beast  of  the  field ; 
upon  thy  belly  shalt  thou  go,  and  dust  shalt  thou 
eat  all  the  days  of  thy  life :  and  I  will  put  enmity 
between  thee  and  the  woman,  and  between  thy 
seed  and  her  seed;  it  shall  bruise  thy  head,  and 
thou  shalt  bruise  his  heel. 

Unto  the  woman  he  said,  I  will  greatly  multiply 
thy  sorrow. 

And  unto  Adam  he  said,  Because  thou 
hast  hearkened  unto  the  voice  of  thy  wife,  and 
hast  eaten  of  the  tree,  of  which  I  commanded  thee, 
saying,  Thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it :  cursed  is  the 
ground  for  thy  sake;  in  sorrow  shalt  thou  eat  of 
it  all  the  days  of  thy  life ;  thorns  also  and  thistles 
shall  it  bring  forth  to  thee;  and  thou  shalt  eat 
the  herb  in  the  field ;  in  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt 
thou  eat  bread,  till  thou  return  unto  the  ground; 
for  out  of  it  wast  thou  taken:  for  dust  thou  art, 
and  imto  dust  shalt  thou  return. 

And  Adam  called  his  wife 's  name  Eve ;  because 
she  was  the  mother  of  all  living. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ADAM  AND  EVE  DRIVEN  FROM  THE 
GARDEN 

(Genesis  iii.  21-24) 

Unto  Adam  also  and  to  his  wife  did  the  Lord 
God  make  coats  of  skins,  and  clothed  them. 

And  the  Lord  God  said,  Behold,  the  man  is 
become  as  one  of  us,  to  know  good  and  evil:  and 
now,  lest  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and  take  also  of 
the  tree  of  life,  and  eat,  and  live  for  ever :  There- 
fore the  Lord  God  sent  him  forth  from  the  garden 
of  Eden,  to  till  the  ground  from  whence  he  was 
taken.  So  he  drove  out  the  man;  and  he  placed 
at  the  east  of  the  garden  of  Eden  Cherubims,  and 
a  flaming  sword  which  turned  every  way,  to  keep 
the  way  of  the  tree  of  life. 

CAIN  AND  ABEL 

(Genesis  iv.  2-17) 

And  Abel  was  a  keeper  of  sheep,  but  Cain  was 
a  tiller  of  the  ground.  And  in  process  of  time  it 
came  to  pass,  that  Cain  brought  of  the  fruit  of 
the  ground  an  offering  unto  the  Lord.  And  Abel, 
he  also  brought  of  the  firstlings  of  his  flock  and  of 
the  fat  thereof.  And  the  Lord  had  respect  unto 
Abel  and  to  his  offering :  but  unto  Cain  and  to  his 
offering  he  had  not  respect.  And  Cain  was  very 
wroth,  and  his  countenance  fell.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  Cain,  Why  art  thou  wroth?  and  why  is 

8 


Fig.  2. — Adam  and  Eve  Driven  from  the 

Garden  of  Eden. 

Masaccio.  Santa  Maria  del  Carmine,  Florence. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

thy  countenance  fallen?  If  thou  doest  well,  shalt 
thou  not  be  accepted!  and  if  thou  doest  not  well, 
sin  lieth  at  the  door.  And  unto  thee  shall  be  his 
desire,  and  thou  shalt  rule  over  him. 

And  Cain  talked  with  Abel  his  brother:  and  it 
came  to  pass,  w^hen  they  were  in  the  field,  that  Cain 


Fig.  3. — The  Story  of  Cain  and  Abel. 
Ghiberti.     Baptistry  Gates,  Florence. 

rose  up  against  Abel  his  brother,  and  slew  him. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Cain,  Where  is  Abel 
thy  brother! 

And  he  said,  I  know  not:  am  I  my  brother's 
keeper! 

And  he  said.  What  hast  thou  done!  the  voice  of 
thy  brother's  blood  crieth  unto  me  from  the 
ground.    And  now  art  thou  cursed  from  the  earth, 

11 


BIBLE  STORIES 

which  hath  opened  her  mouth  to  receive  thy  broth- 
er's  blood  from  thy  hand;  when  thou  tillest  the 
ground,  it  shall  not  henceforth  yield  unto  thee  her 
strength ;  a  fugitive  and  a  vagabond  shalt  thou  be 
in  the  earth. 

And  Cain  said  unto  the  Lord,  My  punishment 
is  greater  than  I  can  bear.  Behold,  thou  hast 
driven  me  out  this  day  from  the  face  of  the  earth ; 
and  from  thy  face  shall  I  be  hid ;  and  I  shall  be  a 
fugitive  and  a  vagabond  in  the  earth ;  and  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  every  one  that  findeth  me  shall 
slay  me. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Therefore  whoso- 
ever slayeth  Cain,  vengeance  shall  be  taken  on  him 
sevenfold. 

And  the  Lord  set  a  mark  upon  Cain,  lest  any 
finding  him  should  kill  him.  And  Cain  went  out 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  dwelt  in  the 
land  of  Nod,  on  the  east  of  Eden. 

BUILDING  THE  AEK 

(Genesis  vi.) 

And  God  looked  upon  the  earth,  and,  behold,  it 
was  corrupt;  for  all  jflesh  had  corrupted  his  way 
upon  the  earth. 

And  God  said  unto  Noah,  The  end  of  all  flesh  is 
come  before  me ;  for  the  earth  is  filled  with  violence 
through  them;  and,  behold,  I  will  destroy  them 
with  the  earth.  Make  thee  an  ark  of  gopher  wood ; 
rooms  shalt  thou  make  in  the  ark,  and  shalt  pitch 

12 


BIBLE  STORIES 

it  within  and  without  with  pitch.  And  this  is  the 
fashion  which  thou  shalt  make  it  of:  The  length 
of  the  ark  shall  he  three  hundred  cubits,  the 
breadth  of  it  fifty  cubits,  and  the  height  of  it 
thirty  cubits.  A  window  shalt  thou  make  to  the 
ark,  and  in  a  cubit  shalt  thou  finish  it  above ;  and 
the  door  of  the  ark  shalt  thou  set  in  the  side 
thereof;  tvith  lower,  second,  and  third  stories  shalt 
thou  make  it.  And,  behold,  I,  even  I,  do  bring  a 
flood  of  waters  upon  the  earth,  to  destroy  all 
flesh,  wherein  is  the  breath  of  life,  from  under 
heaven ;  and  every  thing  that  is  in  the  earth  shall 
die.  But  with  thee  will  I  establish  my  covenant; 
and  thou  shalt  come  into  the  ark,  thou,  and  thy 
sons,  and  thy  wife,  and  thy  sons'  wives  with  thee. 

THE  FLOOD 

(Genesis  vii. ) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Noah,  Come  thou  and 
all  thy  house  into  the  ark;  for  thee  have  I  seen 
righteous  before  me  in  this  generation.  Of  every 
clean  beast  thou  shalt  take  to  thee  by  sevens,  the 
male  and  his  female:  and  of  beasts  that  are  not 
clean  by  two,  the  male  and  his  female.  Of  fowls 
also  of  the  air  by  sevens,  the  male  and  the  female ; 
to  keep  seed  alive  upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth. 
For  yet  seven  days,  and  I  will  cause  it  to  rain 
upon  the  earth  forty  days  and  forty  nights;  and 
every  living  substance  that  I  have  made  will  I 
destroy  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 

13 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  Noah  did  according  unto  all  that  the  Lord 
commanded  him.  In  the  six  hundredth  year  of 
Noah's  life,  in  the  second  month,  the  seventeenth 
day  of  the  month,  the  same  day  were  all  the 
fountains  of  the  great  deep  broken  up,  and  the  win- 
dows of  heaven  were  opened.  And  the  rain  was 
upon  the  earth  forty  days  and  forty  nights. 

In  the  selfsame  day  entered  Noah,  and  Shem, 
and  Ham,  and  Japheth,  the  sons  of  Noah,  and 
Noah's  wife,  and  the  three  wives  of  his  sons  with 
them,  into  the  ark;  they,  and  every  beast  after 
his  kind,  and  all  the  cattle  after  their  kind,  and 
every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth 
after  his  kind,  and  every  fowl  after  his  kind,  every 
bird  of  every  sort.  And  they  went  in  unto  Noah 
into  the  ark,  two  and  two  of  all  flesh,  wherein  is 
the  breath  of  life.  And  they  that  went  in,  went 
in  male  and  female  of  all  flesh,  as  God  had  com- 
manded him :  and  the  Lord  shut  him  in.  And  the 
flood  was  forty  days  upon  the  earth ;  and  the 
waters  increased,  and  bare  up  the  ark,  and  it  was 
lifted  up  above  the  earth;  and  the  waters  pre- 
vailed, and  were  increased  greatly  upon  the  earth ; 
and  the  ark  went  upon  the  face  of  the  waters. 
And  the  waters  prevailed  exceedingly  upon  the 
earth;  and  all  the  high  hills,  that  ivcre  under  the 
whole  heaven,  were  covered.  Fifteen  cubits  up- 
ward did  the  waters  prevail;  and  the  mountains 
were  covered.  And  all  flesh  died  that  moved  upon 
the  earth,  both  of  fowl,  and  of  cattle,  and  of  beast, 
and  of  every  creepmg  thing  that  creepeth  upon 

14 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  earth,  and  every  man.    And  the  waters  pre- 
vailed upon  the  earth  a  hundred  and  fifty  days. 

THE  ARK  ON  ARARAT 

(Genesis  viii.  1-22) 

And  God  remembered  Noah,  and  every  living 
thing,  and  all  the  cattle  that  was  with  him  in  the 
ark :  and  God  made  a  wind  to  pass  over  the  earth, 
and  the  waters  assuaged ;  the  fountains  also  of  the 
deep  and  the  windows  of  heaven  were  stopped,  and 
the  rain  from  heaven  was  restrained;  and  the 
waters  returned  from  off  the  earth  continually: 
and  after  the  end  of  the  hundred  and  fifty  days  the 
waters  were  abated.  And  the  ark  rested  in  the 
seventh  month,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  the 
month,  upon  the  mountains  of  Ararat.  And  the 
waters  decreased  continually  until  the  tenth 
month :  in  the  tenth  month,  on  the  first  day  of  the 
month,  were  the  tops  of  the  mountains  seen. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  forty  days, 
that  Noah  opened  the  window  of  the  ark  which 
he  had  made :  and  he  sent  forth  a  raven,  w^hich 
went  forth  to  and  fro,  until  the  waters  were  dried 
up  from  off  the  earth.  Also  he  sent  forth  a  dove 
from  him,  to  see  if  the  waters  were  abated  from 
off  the  face  of  the  ground;  but  the  dove  found 
no  rest  for  the  sole  of  her  foot,  and  she  returned 
unto  him  into  the  ark ;  for  the  waters  were  on  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth:  then  he  put  forth  his 
hand,  and  took  her,  and  pulled  her  in  unto  him 

15 


BIBLE  STORIES 

into  the  ark.  And  he  stayed  yet  other  seven  days ; 
and  again  he  sent  forth  the  dove  out  of  the  ark; 
and  the  dove  came  in  to  him  in  the  evening;  and, 
lo,  in  her  mouth  was  an  olive  leaf  plucked  off:  so 
Noah  knew  that  the  waters  were  abated  from  off 
the  earth.  And  he  stayed  yet  other  seven  days; 
and  sent  forth  the  dove,  which  returned  not  again 
unto  him  any  more.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  six 
hundredth  and  first  year,  in  the  first  month,  the 
first  day  of  the  month,  the  waters  were  dried  up 
from  the  earth:  and  Noah  removed  the  covering 
of  the  ark,  and  looked,  and,  behold,  the  face  of 
the  ground  was  dry.  And  in  the  second  month,  on 
the  seven  and  twentieth  day  of  the  month,  was 
the  earth  dried. 

And  God  spake  unto  Noah,  saying.  Go  forth  of 
the  ark,  thou,  and  thy  wife,  and  thy  sons,  and 
thy  sons '  wives  with  thee.  Bring  forth  with  thee 
every  living  thing  that  is  with  thee,  of  all  flesh, 
hoth  of  fowl,  and  of  cattle,  and  of  every  creeping 
thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth ;  that  they  may 
breed  abundantly  in  the  earth,  and  be  fruitful,  and 
multiply  upon  the  earth. 

And  Noah  went  forth,  and  his  sons,  and  his  wife, 
and  his  sons'  wives  with  him:  every  beast,  every 
creeping  thing,  and  every  fowl,  and  whatsoever 
creepeth  upon  the  earth,  after  their  kinds,  went 
forth  out  of  the  ark.  And  Noah  builded  an  altar 
unto  the  Lord  ;  and  took  of  every  clean  beast,  and 
of  every  clean  fowl,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  on 
the  altar.    And  the  Lord  smelled  a  sweet  savour ; 

16 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  the  Lord  said  in  his  heart,  I  will  not  again 
curse  the  ground  any  more  for  man's  sake ;  for  the 
imagination  of  man 's  heart  is  evil  from  his  youth ; 
neither  will  I  again  smite  any  more  every  thing 
living,  as  I  have  done.  While  the  earth  remaineth, 
seedtime  and  harvest,  and  cold  and  heat,  and  sum- 
mer and  winter,  and  day  and  night  shall  not  cease. 

THE  RAINBOW  PROMISE 

(Genesis  ix.  8-17) 

And  God  spake  unto  Noah,  and  to  his  sons  with 
him,  saying.  And  I,  behold,  I  establish  my  covenant 
with  you,  and  with  your  seed  after  you ;  and  with 
every  living  creature  that  is  with  you,  of  the  fowl, 
of  the  cattle,  and  of  every  beast  of  the  earth  with 
you;  from  all  that  go  out  of  the  ark,  to  every 
beast  of  the  earth.  And  I  will  establish  my  cove- 
nant with  you ;  neither  shall  all  flesh  be  cut  off  any 
more  by  the  waters  of  a  flood ;  neither  shall  there 
any  more  be  a  flood  to  destroy  the  earth. 

And  God  said,  This  is  the  token  of  the  covenant 
which  I  make  between  me  and  you,  and  every  liv- 
ing creature  that  is  with  you,  for  perpetual  genera- 
tions :  I  do  set  my  bow  in  the  cloud,  and  it  shall 
be  for  a  token  of  a  covenant  between  me  and  the 
earth.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  I  bring 
a  cloud  over  the  earth,  that  the  bow  shall  be  seen 
in  the  cloud:  and  I  will  remember  my  covenant, 
which  is  between  me  and  you  and  every  living 
creature  of  all  flesh ;  and  the  waters  shall  no  more 

17 


BIBLE  STORIES 

become  a  flood  to  destroy  all  flesh.  And  the  bow 
shall  be  in  the  cloud ;  and  I  will  look  upon  it,  that 
I  may  remember  the  everlasting  covenant  between 
God  and  every  living  creature  of  all  flesh  that  is 
upon  the  earth. 

And  God  said  unto  Noah,  This  is  the  token  of 
the  covenant,  which  I  have  established  between 
me  and  all  flesh  that  is  upon  the  earth. 

THE  TOWER  OF  BABEL 

(Genesis  xi.  1-10) 

And  the  whole  earth  was  of  one  language,  and 
of  one  speech.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  jour- 
neyed from  the  east,  that  they  found  a  plain  in 
the  land  of  Shinar;  and  they  dwelt  there.  And 
they  said  one  to  another,  Go  to,  let  us  make  brick, 
and  burn  them  thoroughly.  And  they  had  brick 
for  stone,  and  slime  had  they  for  mortar.  And 
they  said.  Go  to,  let  us  build  us  a  city,  and  a  tower, 
whose  top  map  reach  unto  heaven ;  and  let  us  make 
us  a  name,  lest  we  be  scattered  abroad  upon  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth. 

And  the  Lokd  came  down  to  see  the  city  and  the 
tower,  which  the  children  of  men  builded.  And 
the  Lord  said.  Behold,  the  people  is  one,  and  they 
have  all  one  language ;  and  this  they  begin  to  do : 
and  now  nothing  will  be  restrained  from  them, 
which  they  have  imagined  to  do.  Go  to,  let  us  go 
down,  and  there  confound  their  language,  that 
they  may  not  understand  one  another's  speech. 

18 


BIBLE  STORIES 

So  the  Lord  scattered  them  abroad  from  thence 
upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth :  and  they  left  oif  to 
build  the  city.  Therefore  is  the  name  of  it  called 
Babel;  because  the  Lord  did  there  confound  the 
language  of  all  the  earth:  and  from  thence  did 
the  Lord  scatter  them  abroad  upon  the  face  of  all 
the  earth. 

THREE  ANGELS  VISIT  ABRAHAM 

(Genesis  xviii.  1-8) 

And  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  the  plains 
of  Mamre :  and  he  sat  in  the  tent  door  in  the  heat 
of  the  day;  and  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  looked, 
and,  lo,  three  men  stood  by  him :  and  when  he  saw 
them,  he  ran  to  meet  them  from  the  tent  door,  and 
bowed  himself  toward  the  ground,  and  said.  My 
Lord,  if  now  I  have  found  favour  in  thy  sight, 
pass  not  away,  I  pray  thee,  from  thy  servant :  let 
a  little  water,  I  pray  you,  be  fetched,  and  wash 
your  feet,  and  rest  yourselves  under  the  tree :  and 
I  will  fetch  a  morsel  of  bread,  and  comfort  ye  your 
hearts ;  after  that  ye  shall  pass  on :  for  therefore 
are  ye  come  to  your  servant. 

And  they  said.  So  do,  as  thou  hast  said. 

And  Abraham  hastened  into  the  tent  unto  Sarah, 
and  said.  Make  ready  quickly  three  measures  of 
fine  meal,  knead  it,  and  make  cakes  upon  the 
hearth. 

And  Abraham  ran  unto  the  herd,  and 
fetched  a  calf  tender  and  good,  and  gave  it  unto 

19 


BIBLE  STORIES 


-'I 

! 

^  . 

wM 

^--    '▼■- 

Fig.  4.- 


-Abraham  and  the  Three  Angels. 
Memlinc. 


a  young  man;  and  he  hasted  to  dress  it.  And 
he  took  butter,  and  milk,  and  the  calf  which  he 
had  dressed,  and  set  it  before  them ;  and  he  stood 
by  them  under  the  tree,  and  they  did  eat. 


BIBLE  STORIES 


THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  SODOM  IS 
REVEALED  TO  ABRAHAM 

(Genesis  xviii.  16-33) 

And  the  men  rose  up  from  thence,  and  looked 
toward  Sodom:  and  Abraham  went  with  them  to 
bring  them  on  the  way. 

And  the  Lord  said,  Shall  I  hide  from  Abraham 
that  thing  which  I  do ;  seeing  that  Abraham  shall 
surely  become  a  great  and  mighty  nation,  and 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth  shall  be  blessed  in  him? 
For  I  know  him,  that  he  will  command  his  chil- 
dren and  his  household  after  him,  and  they  shall 
keep  the  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judg- 
ment; that  the  Lord  may  bring  upon  Abraham 
that  which  he  hath  spoken  of  him. 

And  the  Lord  said.  Because  the  cry  of  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah  is  great,  and  because  their  sin  is 
very  grievous ;  I  will  go  down  now,  and  see  whether 
they  have  done  altogether  according  to  the  cry 
of  it,  which  is  come  unto  me;  and  if  not,  I  will 
know. 

And  the  men  turned  their  faces  from  thence,  and 
went  toward  Sodom:  but  Abraham  stood  yet  be- 
fore the  Lord. 

And  Abraham  drew  near,  and  said.  Wilt  thou 
also  destroy  the  righteous  with  the  wicked?  Per- 
adventure  there  be  fifty  righteous  within  the  city : 
wilt  thou  also  destroy  and  not  spare  the  place  for 
the  fifty  righteous  that  are  therein?    That  be  far 

21 


BIBLE  STORIES 

from  thee  to  do  after  this  manner,  to  slay  the 
righteous  with  the  wicked :  and  that  the  righteous 
should  be  as  the  wicked,  that  be  far  from  thee: 
shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right? 

And  the  Lord  said,  If  I  find  in  Sodom  fifty 
righteous  within  the  city,  then  I  will  spare  all  the 
place  for  their  sakes. 

And  Abraham  answered  and  said,  Behold  now, 
I  have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto  the  Loed, 
which  am  but  dust  and  ashes :  peradventure  there 
shall  lack  five  of  the  fifty  righteous :  wilt  thou  de- 
stroy all  the  city  for  lack  of  five? 

And  he  said.  If  I  find  there  forty  and  five,  I  will 
not  destroy  it. 

And  he  spake  unto  him  yet  again,  and  said, 
Peradventure  there  shall  be  forty  found  there. 

And  he  said,  I  will  not  do  it  for  forty's  sake. 

And  he  said  unto  him,  Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be 
angry,  and  I  will  speak :  peradventure  there  shall 
thirty  be  found  there. 

And  he  said,  I  will  not  do  it,  if  I  find  thirty  there. 

And  he  said,  Behold  now,  I  have  taken  upon 
me  to  speak  unto  the  Lord:  peradventure  there 
shall  be  twenty  found  there. 

And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy  it  for  twenty's 
sake. 

And  he  said.  Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry,  and  I 
will  speak  yet  but  this  once:  peradventure  ten 
shall  be  found  there. 

And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy  it  for  ten's  sake. 

And  the  Lord  went  his  way,  as  soon  as  he  had 

22 


BIBLE  STORIES 

left  communing  with  Abraham :  and  Abraham  re- 
turned unto  his  place.  . 

LOT'S  WIFE  BECOMES  A  PILLAR  OF  SALT 

(Genesis  xix.  1-3,  12-26) 

And  there  came  two  angels  to  Sodom  at  even; 
and  Lot  sat  in  the  gate  of  Sodom :  and  Lot  seeing 
them  rose  up  to  meet  them ;  and  he  bowed  himself 
with  his  face  toward  the  ground;  and  he  said, 
Behold  now,  my  lords,  turn  in,  I  pray  you,  into 
your  servant 's  house,  and  tarry  all  night,  and  wash 
your  feet,  and  ye  shall  rise  up  early,  and  go  on 
your  ways.  And  they  said.  Nay;  but  we  will 
abide  in  the  street  all  night.  And  he  pressed  upon 
them  greatly;  and  they  turned  in  unto  him,  and 
entered  into  his  house ;  and  he  made  them  a  feast, 
and  did  bake  unleavened  bread,  and  they  did  eat. 

And  the  men  said  unto  Lot,  Hast  thou  here 
any  besides?  son  in  law,  and  thy  sons,  and  thy 
daughters,  and  whatsoever  thou  hast  in  the  city, 
bring  them  out  of  this  place :  for  we  will  destroy 
this  place,  because  the  cry  of  them  is  waxen  great 
before  the  face  of  the  Lord;  and  the  Lord  hath 
sent  us  to  destroy  it. 

And  Lot  went  out,  and  spake  unto  his  sons  in 
law,  which  married  his  daughters,  and  said.  Up, 
get  you  out  of  this  place;  for  the  Lord  will  de- 
stroy this  city.  But  he  seemed  as  one  that  mocked 
unto  his  sons  in  law. 

And  when  the  morning  arose,  then  the  angels 

23 


BIBLE  STORIES 

hastened  Lot,  saying,  Arise,  take  thy  wife,  and 
thy  two  daughters,  which  are  here;  lest  thou  be 
consumed  in  the  iniquity  of  the  city.    And  while 


ttflH^^ 

^^>W 

■ 

^^^H    *J^M 

■■ 

H^^HH^^^yJ^LJH 

■i^Mi 

^B\  ^Jh 

ll^'"  ;i 

Fig.  5. — Lot  Fleeing  from  Sodom. 
Raphael.    Loggia,  Vatican,  Rome. 

he  lingered,  the  men  laid  hold  upon  his  hand,  and 
upon  the  hand  of  his  wife,  and  upon  the  hand  of  his 
two  daughters ;  the  Lord  being  merciful  unto  him : 
and  they  brought  him  forth,  and  set  him  without 
the  city. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  had  brought 
them  forth  abroad,  that  he  said.  Escape  for  thy 
life ;  look  not  behind  thee,  neither  stay  thou  in  all 
the  plain;  escape  to  the  mountain,  lest  thou  be 
consumed. 

And  Lot  said  unto  them,  Oh,  not  so,  my  Lord: 

24 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Behold  now,  thy  servant  hath  found  grace  in  thy 
sight,  and  thou  hast  magnified  thy  mercy,  which 
thou  hast  shewed  unto  me  in  saving  my  Ufe;  and 
I  cannot  escape  to  the  mountain,  lest  some  evil 
take  me,  and  I  die  :  Behold  now,  this  city  is  near  to 
flee  unto,  and  it  is  a  little  one :  0,  let  me  escape 
thither,  {is  it  not  a  little  one?)  and  my  soul  shall 
live. 

And  he  said  unto  him.  See,  I  have  accepted  thee 
concerning  this  thing  also,  that  I  will  not  over- 
throw this  city,  for  the  which  thou  hast  spoken. 
Haste  thee,  escape  thither;  for  I  cannot  do  any 
thing  till  thou  be  come  thither.  Therefore  the 
name  of  the  city  was  called  Zoar.  The  sun  was 
risen  upon  the  earth  when  Lot  entered  into  Zoar. 
Then  the  Lord  rained  upon  Sodom  and  upon 
Gomorrah  brimstone  and  fire  from  the  Lord  out 
of  heaven;  and  he  overthrew  those  cities,  and  all 
the  plain,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  cities, 
and  that  which  grew  upon  the  ground.  But  his 
wife  looked  back  from  behind  him,  and  she  became 
a  pillar  of  salt. 


BIBLE  STORIES 


ISHMAEL,    ISAAC'S    HALF    BROTHER,    IS 
SENT  AWAY 

( Genesis  xxi.  3-24) 

And  Abraham  called  the  name  of  his  son  that 
was  born  unto  him,  whom  Sarah  bare  to  him, 
Isaac.  And  Abraham  circumcised  his  son  Isaac, 
being  eight  days  old,  as  God  had  commanded  him. 
And  Abraham  was  a  hundred  years  old,  when  his 
son  Isaac  was  born  unto  him. 

And  the  child  grew,  and  was  weaned:  and 
Abraham  made  a  great  feast  the  sayne  day  that 
Isaac  was  weaned.  And  Sarah  saw  the  son  of 
Hagar  the  Egyptian,  which  she  had  borne  unto 
Abraham,  mocking.  Wherefore  she  said  unto 
Abraham,  Cast  out  this  bondwoman  and  her  son 
Ishmael:  for  the  son  of  this  bondwoman  shall  not 
be  heir  with  my  son,  eveji  with  Isaac. 

And  the  thing  was  very  grievous  in  Abraham 's 
sight  because  of  his  son.  And  God  said  unto 
Abraham,  Let  it  not  be  grievous  in  thy  sight  be- 
cause of  the  lad,  and  because  of  thy  bondwoman ; 
in  all  that  Sarah  hath  said  unto  thee,  hearken  unto 
her  voice;  for  in  Isaac  shall  thy  seed  be  called. 
And  also  of  the  son  of  the  bondwoman  will  I  make 
a  nation,  because  he  is  thy  seed. 

And  Abraham  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
and  took  bread,  and  a  bottle  of  water,  and  gave  it 
unto  Hagar,  putting  it  on  her  shoulder,  and  the 
child,  and  sent  her  away:  and  she  departed,  and 

26 


Fig.  6. — Hagar  and  Ishmael  Driven  from  Home. 
Van  der  Werf.     Dresden  Gallery. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

wandered  in  the  wilderness  of  Beer-slieba.  And 
the  water  was  spent  in  the  bottle,  and  she  cast  the 
child  under  one  of  the  shrubs.  And  she  went,  and 
sat  her  do^vIl  over  against  him  a  good  way  off,  as 
it  were  a  bowshot :  for  she  said.  Let  me  not  see  the 
death  of  the  child.  And  she  sat  over  against  him, 
and  lifted  up  her  voice,  and  wept.  And  God  heard 
the  voice  of  the  lad;  and  the  angel  of  God  called 
to  Hagar  out  of  heaven,  and  said  unto  her.  What 
aileth  thee,  Hagar !  fear  not ;  for  God  hath  heard 
the  voice  of  the  lad  where  he  is.  Arise,  lift  up  the 
lad,  and  hold  him  in  thine  hand;  for  I  will  make 
him  a  great  nation. 

And  God  opened  her  eyes,  and  she  saw  a  well 
of  water ;  and  she  went,  and  filled  the  bottle  with 
water,  and  gave  the  lad  drink.  And  God  was  with 
the  lad ;  and  he  grew,  and  dwelt  in  the  wilderness, 
and  became  an  archer.  And  he  dwelt  in  the  wil- 
derness of  Paran :  and  his  mother  took  him  a  wife 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 

GOD  TESTS  ABRAHAM 

(Genesis  xxiii.  1-14) 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things,  that 
God  did  tempt  Abraham,  and  said  unto  him, 
Abraham. 

And  he  said.  Behold  here  I  am. 

And  he  said.  Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son 
Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  get  thee  into  the  land 
of  Moriah ;  and  offer  him  there  for  a  burnt  offer- 

29 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ing  upon  one  of  the  mountains  which  I  will  tell 
thee  of. 

And  Abraham  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and 


Fig.  7. — Abraham  Ready  to  Sacrifice  Isaac. 
Ghiherti.     Baptistry  Gates,  Florence. 

saddled  his  ass,  and  took  two  of  his  young  men 
with  him,  and  Isaac  his  son,  and  clave  the  wood 
for  the  burnt  offering,  and  rose  up,  and  went  unto 
the  place  of  which  God  had  told  him.  Then  on 
the  third  day  Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw 
the  place  afar  off.  And  Abraham  said  unto  his 
young  men.  Abide  ye  here  with  the  ass ;  and  I  and 
the  lad  will  go  yonder  and  worship,  and  come 

30 


BIBLE  STORIES 

again  to  you.  And  Abraham  took  the  wood  of  the 
burnt  offering,  and  laid  it  upon  Isaac  his  son ;  and 
he  took  the  fire  in  his  hand,  and  a  knife ;  and  they 
went  both  of  them  together. 

And  Isaac  spake  unto  Abraham  his  father,  and 
said.  My  father :  and  he  said,  Here  am  I,  my  son. 
And  he  said,  Behold  the  fire  and  the  wood:  but 
where  is  the  lamb  for  a  burnt  offering? 

And  Abraham  said.  My  son,  God  will  provide 
himself  a  lamb  for  a  burnt  offering. 

So  they  went  both  of  them  together.  And  they 
came  to  the  place  which  God  had  told  him  of ;  and 
Abraham  built  an  altar  there,  and  laid  the  wood 
in  order,  and  bound  Isaac  his  son,  and  laid  him  on 
the  altar  upon  the  wood.  And  Abraham  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  and  took  the  knife  to  slay  his  son. 
And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  called  unto  him  out  of 
heaven,  and  said,  Abraham,  Abraham:  and  he 
said.  Here  am  I.  And  he  said,  Lay  not  thine  hand 
upon  the  lad,  neither  do  thou  anything  unto  him : 
for  now  I  know  that  thou  f oarest  God,  seeing  thou 
hast  not  withheld  thy  son,  thine  only  son  from  me. 

And  Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  looked, 
and  behold  behind  hi)n  a  ram  caught  in  a  thicket 
by  his  horns :  and  Abraham  went  and  took  the 
ram,  and  offered  him  up  for  a  burnt  offering  in 
the  stead  of  his  son. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

PURCHASE  OF  MACHPELAH 

(Genesis  xxiii.  1-20) 

And  Sarah  was  a  hundred  and  seven  and  twenty 
years  old:  these  ivere  the  years  of  the  life  of 
Sarah.  And  Sarah  died  in  Kirjatharba;  the  same 
is  Hebron  in  the  land  of  Canaan :.  and  Abraham 
came  to  mourn  for  Sarah,  and  to  weep  for  her. 

And  Abraham  stood  up  from  before  his  dead, 
and  spake  unto  the  sons  of  Heth,  saying,  I  am 
a  stranger  and  a  sojourner  with  you:  give  me  a 
possession  of  a  buryingplace  with  you,  that  I  may 
bury  my  dead  out  of  my  sight. 

And  the  children  of  Heth  answered  Abraham, 
saying  unto  him.  Hear  us,  my  lord:  thou  art  a 
mighty  prince  among  us :  in  the  choice  of  our 
sepulchres  bury  thy  dead;  none  of  us  shall  with- 
hold from  thee  his  sepulchre,  but  that  thou  mayest 
bury  thy  dead. 

And  Abraham  stood  up,  and  bowed  himself  to 
the  people  of  the  land,  even  to  the  children  of  Heth. 
And  he  communed  with  them,  saying.  If  it  be 
your  mind  that  I  should  bury  my  dead  out  of  my 
sight,  hear  me,  and  entreat  for  me  to  Ephron  the 
son  of  Zohar,  that  he  may  give  me  the  cave  of 
Machpelah,  which  he  hath,  which  is  in  the  end  of 
his  field ;  for  as  much  money  as  it  is  worth  he  shall 
give  it  me  for  a  possession  of  a  buryingplace 
amongst  you. 

And  Ephron  dwelt  among  the  children  of  Heth : 

32 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  Ephron  the  Hittite  answered  Abraham  in  the 
audience  of  the  children  of  Heth,  even  of  all  that 
went  in  at  the  gate  of  his  city,  saying,  Nay,  my 
lord,  hear  me :  the  field  give  I  thee,  and  the  cave 
that  is  therein,  I  give  it  thee;  in  the  presence  of 
the  sons  of  my  people  give  I  it  thee :  bury  thy 
dead. 

And  Abraham  bowed  down  himself  before  the 
people  of  the  land.  And  he  spake  unto  Ephron  in 
the  audience  of  the  people  of  the  land,  saying, 
But  if  thou  wilt  give  it,  I  pray  thee,  hear  me:  I 
will  give  thee  money  for  the  field;  take  it  of  me, 
and  I  will  bury  my  dead  there. 

And  Ephron  answered  Abraham,  saying  unto 
him.  My  lord,  hearken  unto  me :  the  land  is  worth 
four  hundred  shekels  of  silver;  what  is  that  be- 
twixt me  and  thee?  bury  therefore  thy  dead. 

And  Abraham  hearkened  unto  Ephron;  and 
Abraham  weighed  to  Ephron  the  silver,  which  he 
had  named  in  the  audience  of  the  sons  of  Heth, 
four  hundred  shekels  of  silver,  current  money 
with  the  merchant.  And  the  field  of  Ephron, 
which  was  in  Machpelah,  which  was  before  Mamre, 
the  field,  and  the  cave  which  ivas  therein,  and  all 
the  trees  that  were  in  the  field,  that  ivere  in  all 
the  borders  round  about,  were  made  sure  unto 
Abraham  for  a  possession  in  the  presence  of  the 
children  of  Heth,  before  all  that  went  in  at  the 
gate  of  his  city.  And  after  this,  Abraham  buried 
Sarah  his  wife  in  the  cave  of  the  field  of  Machpelah 
before  Mamre :  the  same  is  Hebron  in  the  land  of 

33 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Canaan.  And  the  field,  and  the  cave  that  is 
therein,  were  made  sure  unto  Abraham  for  a  pos- 
session of  a  buryingplace  by  the  sons  of  Heth. 

ISAAC  AND  REBEKAH 

(Genesis  xxiv.  1-53) 

And  Abraham  was  old,  and  well  stricken  in 
age :  and  the  Lord  had  blessed  Abraham  in  all 
things.  And  Abraham  said  unto  his  eldest  serv- 
ant of  his  house,  that  ruled  over  all  that  he  had, 
Put,  I  pray  thee,  thy  hand  under  my  thigh:  and 
I  will  make  thee  swear  by  the  Lord,  the  God  of 
heaven,  and  the  God  of  the  earth,  that  thou  shalt 
not  take  a  wife  unto  my  son  of  the  daughters 
of  the  Canaanites,  among  whom  I  dwell :  but  thou 
shalt  go  unto  my  country,  and  to  my  kindred,  and 
take  a  wife  unto  my  son  Isaac. 

And  the  servant  said  unto  him,  Peradventure 
the  woman  will  not  be  willing  to  follow  me  unto 
this  land :  must  I  needs  bring  thy  son  again  unto 
the  land  from  whence  thou  camest? 

And  Abraham  said  unto  him.  Beware  thou  that 
thou  bring  not  my  son  thither  again.  The  Lord 
God  of  heaven,  which  took  me  from  my  father's 
house,  and  from  the  land  of  my  kindred,  and  which 
spake  unto  me,  and  that  sware  unto  me,  saying. 
Unto  thy  seed  will  I  give  this  land ;  he  shall  send 
his  angel  before  thee,  and  thou  shalt  take  a  wife 
unto  my  son  from  thence.  And  if  the  woman  will 
not  be  willing  to  follow  thee,  then  thou  shalt  be 

34 


BIBLE  STORIES 

clear  from  this  my  oath:  only  bring  not  my  son 
thither  again. 

And  the  servant  pnt  his  hand  under  the  thigh 
of  Abraham  his  master,  and  sware  to  him  concern- 
ing that  matter.  And  the  servant  took  ten  camels 
of  the  camels  of  his  master,  and  departed;  for 
all  the  goods  of  his  master  were  in  his  hand :  and 
he  arose,  and  went  to  Mesopotamia,  unto  the  city 
of  Nahor.  And  he  made  his  camels  to  kneel  down 
without  the  city  by  a  well  of  water  at  the  time  of 
the  evening,  even  the  time  that  women  go  out 
to  draw  water. 

And  he  said,  0  Lord  God  of  my  master  Abra- 
ham, I  pray  thee,  send  me  good  speed  this  day, 
and  shew  kindness  unto  my  master  Abraham. 
Behold,  I  stand  here  by  the  well  of  water ;  and  the 
daughters  of  the  men  of  the  city  come  out  to  draw 
water :  and  let  it  come  to  pass,  that  the  damsel  to 
whom  I  shall  say.  Let  down  thy  pitcher,  I  pray 
thee,  that  I  may  drink;  and  she  shall  say.  Drink, 
and  I  will  give  thy  camels  drink  also ;  let  the  same 
he  she  that  thou  hast  appointed  for  thy  servant 
Isaac;  and  thereby  shall  I  know  that  thou  hast 
shewed  kindness  unto  my  master. 

E.EBEKAH  Comes  to  the  Well 
And  it  came  to  pass,  before  he  had  done  speak- 
ing, that,  behold,  Rebekah  came  out,  who  was  born 
to  Bethuel,  son  of  Milcah,  the  wife  of  Nahor, 
Abraham's  brother,  with  her  pitcher  upon  her 
shoulder.    And  the  damsel  was  very  fair  to  look 

35 


BIBLE  STORIES 

upon,  a  virgin:  and  she  went  down  to  the  well, 
and  filled  her  pitcher,  and  came  up. 

And  the  servant  ran  to  meet  her,  and  said.  Let 
me,  I  pray  thee,  drink  a  little  water  of  thy  pitcher. 
And  she  said,  Drink,  my  lord :  and  she  hasted,  and 
let  down  her  pitcher  upon  her  hand,  and  gave  him 
drink.  And  when  she  had  done  giving  him  drink, 
she  said,  I  will  draw  water  for  thy  camels  also, 
until  they  have  done  drinking.  And  she  hasted, 
and  emptied  her  pitcher  into  the  trough,  and  ran 
again  unto  the  well  to  draw  water,  and  drew  for 
all  his  camels.  And  the  man  wondering  at  her  held 
his  peace,  to  wit  whether  the  Lord  had  made  his 
journey  prosperous  or  not. 

The  Servant  Gives  Her  Precious  Jewels 

And  it  came  to  pass,  as  the  camels  had  done 
drinking,  that  the  man  took  a  golden  earring  of 
half  a  shekel  weight,  and  two  bracelets  for  her 
hands  of  ten  shekels  weight  of  gold;  and  said, 
Whose  daughter  art  thou?  tell  me,  I  pray  thee: 
is  there  room  in  thy  father 's  house  for  us  to  lodge 
in? 

And  she  said  unto  him,  I  am  the  daughter  of 
Bethuel  the  son  of  Milcah,  which  she  bare  unto 
Nahor.  She  said  moreover  unto  him.  We  have 
both  straw  and  provender  enough,  and  room  to 
lodge  in. 

And  the  man  bowed  down  his  head,  and  wor- 
shipped the  Lord.  And  he  said.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  God  of  my  master  Abraham,  who  hath  not 

36 


♦  BIBLE  STORIES 

left  destitute  my  master  of  his  mercy  and  his 
truth:  I  being  in  the  way,  the  Lord  led  me  to  the 
house  of  my  master's  brethren. 

Rebekah's  Brother  Laban  Invites  Him  Home 
And  the  damsel  ran,  and  told  them  of  her  moth- 
er's house  these  things.  And  Rebekah  had  a 
brother,  and  his  name  ivas  Laban :  and  Laban  ran 
out  unto  the  man,  unto  the  well.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  when  he  saw  the  earring  and  bracelets  upon 
his  sister's  hands,  and  when  he  heard  the  words 
of  Rebekah  his  sister,  saying.  Thus  spake  the  man 
unto  me ;  that  he  came  unto  the  man ;  and,  behold, 
he  stood  by  the  camels  at  the  well.  And 
he  said.  Come  in,  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord; 
wherefore  standest  thou  without?  for  I  have  pre- 
pared the  house,  and  room  for  the  camels.  And 
the  man  came  into  the  house :  and  he  ungirded  his 
camels,  and  gave  straw  and  provender  for  the 
camels,  and  water  to  wash  his  feet,  and  the  men 's 
feet  that  were  with  him. 

And  there  was  set  meat  before  him  to  eat :  but 
he  said,  I  will  not  eat,  until  I  have  told  mine 
errand. 

And  he  said,  Speak  on. 

Abraham's  Servant  Tells  His  Errand 

And  he  said,  I  am  Abraham 's  servant.    And  the 

Lord  hath  blessed  my  master  greatly;  and  he  is 

become  great:  and  he  hath  given  him  flocks,  and 

herds,  and  silver,  and  gold,  and  menservants,  and 

37 


BIBLE  STORIES 

maidservants,  and  camels,  and  asses.  And  Sarah 
my  master's  wife  bare  a  son  to  my  master  when 
she  was  old :  and  unto  him  hath  he  given  all  that 
he  hath.  And  my  master  made  me  swear,  say- 
ing, Thou  shalt  not  take  a  wife  to  my  son  of  the 
daughters  of  the  Canaanites,  in  whose  land  I 
dwell:  but  thou  shalt  go  unto  my  father's  house, 
and  to  my  kindred,  and  take  a  wife  unto  my  son. 
And  I  said  unto  my  master,  Peradventure  the 
woman  will  not  follow  me.  And  he  said  unto  me. 
The  Lord,  before  whom  I  walk,  will  send  his  angel 
with  thee,  and  prosper  thy  way;  and  thou  shalt 
take  a  wife  for  my  son  of  my  kindred,  and  of  my 
father 's  house :  then  shalt  thou  be  clear  from  this 
my  oath,  when  thou  comest  to  my  kindred ;  and  if 
they  give  not  thee  one,  thou  shalt  be  clear  from 
my  oath.  And  I  came  this  day  unto  the  well,  and 
said,  0  Lord  God  of  my  master  Abraham,  if  now 
thou  do  prosper  my  way  which  I  go :  behold,  I 
stand  by  the  well  of  water;  and  it  shall  come  to 
pass,  that  when  the  virgin  cometh  forth  to  draw 
water,  and  I  say  to  her.  Give  me,  I  pray  thee,  a 
little  water  of  thy  pitcher  to  drink;  and  she  say 
to  me.  Both  drink  thou,  and  I  will  also  draw  for 
thy  camels :  let  the  same  he  the  woman  whom  the 
Lord  hath  appointed  out  for  my  master's  son. 
And  before  I  had  done  speaking  in  mine  heart,  be- 
hold, Rebekah  came  forth  with  her  pitcher  on  her 
shoulder;  and  she  went  down  unto  the  well,  and 
drew  ivater:  and  I  said  unto  her.  Let  me  drink,  I 
pray  thee.    And  she  made  haste,  and  let  down  her 

38 


BIBLE  STORIES 

pitcher  from  her  shoulder,  and  said,  Drink,  and  I 
will  give  thy  camels  drink  also:  so  I  drank,  and 
she  made  the  camels  drink  also.  And  I  asked 
her,  and  said.  Whose  daughter  art  thou?  And  she 
said,  The  daughter  of  Bethuel,  Nahor 's  son,  whom 
Milcah  bare  unto  him :  and  I  put  the  earring  upon 
her  face,  and  the  bracelets  upon  her  hands.  And 
I  bowed  down  my  head,  and  worshipped  the  Lord, 
and  blessed  the  Lord  God  of  my  master  Abraham, 
which  had  led  me  in  the  right  way  to  take  my 
master's  brother's  daughter  unto  his  son.  And 
now  if  ye  will  deal  kindly  and  truly  with  my  mas- 
ter, tell  me :  and  if  not,  tell  me ;  that  I  may  turn 
to  the  right  hand,  or  to  the  left. 

Then  Laban  and  Bethuel  answered  and  said, 
The  thing  proceedeth  from  the  Lord:  we  cannot 
speak  unto  thee  bad  or  good.  Behold,  Rebekah  is 
before  thee,  take  her,  and  go,  and  let  her  be  thy 
master's   son's  wife,  as  the  Lord  hath  spoken. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Abraham's  serv- 
ant heard  their  words,  he  worshipped  the  Lord, 
bowing  himself  to  the  earth.  And  the  servant 
brought  forth  jewels  of  silver,  and  jewels  of  gold, 
and  raiment,  and  gave  them  to  Rebekah :  he  gave 
also  to  her  brother  and  to  her  mother  precious 
things. 

And  they  did  eat  and  drink,  he  and  the  men  that 
were  with  him,  and  tarried  all  night;  and  they 
rose  up  in  the  morning,  and  he  said,  Send  me  away 
unto  my  master.  And  her  brother  and  her  mother 
said.  Let  the  damsel  abide  with  us  a  few  days, 

39 


BIBLE  STORIES 

at  the  least  ten;  after  that  she  shall  go.  And  he 
said  unto  them,  Hinder  me  not,  seeing  the  Lord 
hath  prospered  my  way ;  send  me  away  that  I  may 
go  to  my  master.  And  they  said.  We  will  call  the 
damsel,  and  enquire  at  her  mouth.  And  they 
called  Rebekah,  and  said  unto  her,  Wilt  thou  go 
with  this  man  ?    And  she  said,  I  will  go. 

And  they  sent  away  Eebekah  their  sister,  and 
her  nurse,  and  Abraham's  servant,  and  his  men. 
And  they  blessed  Rebekah,  and  said  unto  her, 
Thou  art  our  sister,  be  thou  the  mother  of  thou- 
sands of  millions,  and  let  thy  seed  possess  the  gate 
of  those  which  hate  them. 

Isaac  Meets  Rebekah 
And  Rebekah  arose,  and  her  damsels,  and  they 
rode  upon  the  camels,  and  followed  the  man :  and 
the  servant  took  Rebekah,  and  went  his  way. 
And  Isaac  came  from  the  way  of  the  well  Lahai- 
roi;  for  he  dwelt  in  the  south  country.  And 
Isaac  went  out  to  meditate  in  the  field  at  the 
eventide :  and  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw,  and, 
behold,  the  camels  were  coming.  And  Rebekah 
lifted  up  her  eyes,  and  when  she  saw  Isaac,  she 
lighted  off  the  camel.  For  she  had  said  unto  the 
servant.  What  man  is  this  that  walketh  in  the  field 
to  meet  us?  And  the  servant  had  said,  It  is  my 
master :  therefore  she  took  a  vail,  and  covered  her- 
self. And  the  servant  told  Isaac  all  things  that  he 
had  done.  And  Isaac  brought  her  into  his  mother 
Sarah's  tent,  and  took  Rebekah,  and  she  became 

40 


BIBLE  STORIES 

his  wife;  and  he  loved  her:  and  Isaac  was  com- 
forted after  his  mother's  death. 


ESAU  SELLETH  HIS  BIRTHRIGHT 

(Genesis  xxvi.  27-34) 

And  the  boys  grew:  and  Esau  was  a  cunning 
hunter,  a  man  of  the  field ;  and  Jacob  was  a  plain 
man,  dwelling  in  tents.  And  Isaac  loved  Esau, 
because  he  did  eat  of  his  venison:  but  Rebekah 
loved  Jacob. 

And  Jacob  sod  pottage:  and  Esau  came  from 
the  field,  and  he  tvas  faint :  and  Esau  said  to  Jacob, 
Feed  me,  I  pray  thee,  with  that  same  red  pottage; 
for  I  am  faint:  therefore  was  his  name  called 
Edom.  And  Jacob  said.  Sell  me  this  day  thy 
birthright.  And  Esau  said,  Behold,  I  am  at  the 
point  to  die :  and  what  profit  shall  this  birthright 
do  to  me?  And  Jacob  said.  Swear  to  me  this 
day;  and  he  sware  unto  him:  and  he  sold  his 
birthright  unto  Jacob.  Then  Jacob  gave  Esau 
bread  and  pottage  of  lentiles ;  and  he  did  eat  and 
drink,  and  rose  up,  and  went  his  way:  thus  Esau 
despised  his  birthright. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JACOB  STEALS  ESAU'S  BLESSING 

(Genesis  xxvii.  1-40) 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Isaac  was  old, 
and  his  eyes  were  dim,  so  that  he  could  not  see,  he 
called  Esau  his  eldest  son,  and  said  unto  him, 
My  son :  and  he  said  unto  him.  Behold,  here  am  I. 
And  he  said.  Behold  now,  I  am  old,  I  know  not 
the  day  of  my  death:  now  therefore  take,  I 
pray  thee,  thy  weapons,  thy  quiver  and  thy  bow, 
and  go  out  to  the  field,  and  take  me  some  venison ; 
and  make  me  savoury  meat,  such  as  I  love,  and 
bring  it  to  me,  that  I  may  eat;  that  my  soul  may 
bless  thee  before  I  die. 

And  Rebekah  heard  when  Isaac  spake  to  Esau 
his  son.  And  Esau  went  to  the  field  to  hunt  for 
venison,  and  to  bring  it.  And  Rebekah  spake  unto 
Jacob  her  son,  saying.  Behold,  I  heard  thy  father 
speak  unto  Esau  thy  brother,  saying,  Bring  me 
venison,  and  make  me  savoury  meat,  that  I  may 
eat,  and  bless  thee  before  the  Lord  before  my 
death.  Now  therefore,  my  son,  obey  my  voice  ac- 
cording to  that  which  I  command  thee.  Go  now  to 
the  flock,  and  fetch  me  from  thence  two  good  kids 
of  the  goats ;  and  I  will  make  them  savoury  meat 
for  thy  father,  such  as  he  loveth:  and  thou  shalt 
bring  it  to  thy  father,  that  he  may  eat,  and  that  he 
may  bless  thee  before  his  death.  And  Jacob  said  to 
Rebekah  his  mother,  Behold,  Esau  my  brother  is 
a  hairy  man,  and  I  am  a  smooth  man :  my  father 

42 


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Ps 

BIBLE  STORIES 

peradventure  will  feel  me,  and  I  shall  seem  to  hiiii 
as  a  deceiver;  and  I  shall  bring  a  curse  upon  me, 
and  not  a  blessing.  And  his  mother  said  unto  him, 
Upon  me  be  thy  curse,  my  son :  only  obey  my  voice, 
and  go  fetch  me  them.  And  he  went,  and  fetched, 
and  brought  them  to  his  mother:  and  his  mother 
made  savoury  meat,  such  as  his  father  loved. 
And  Rebekah  took  goodly  raiment  of  her  eldest 
son  Esau,  which  tvere  with  her  in  the  house,  and 
put  them  upon  Jacob  her  younger  son :  and  she  put 
the  skins  of  the  kids  of  the  goats  upon  his  hands, 
and  upon  the  smooth  of  his  neck :  and  she  gave  the 
savoury  meat  and  the  bread,  which  she  had  pre- 
pared, into  the  hand  of  her  son  Jacob. 

And  he  came  unto  his  father,  and  said.  My 
father:  and  he  said,  Here  am  I;  who  art  thou, 
my  son?  And  Jacob  said  unto  his  father,  I  am 
Esau  thy  firstborn ;  I  have  done  according  as  thou 
badest  me :  arise,  I  pray  thee,  sit  and  eat  of  my 
venison,  that  thy  soul  may  bless  me.  And  Isaac 
said  unto  his  son.  How  is  it  that  thou  hast  found  it 
so  quickly,  my  son?  And  he  said.  Because  the 
LoKD  thy  God  brought  it  to  me.  And  Isaac  said 
unto  Jacob,  Come  near,  I  pray  thee,  that  I  may 
feel  thee,  my  son,  whether  thou  be  my  very  son 
Esau  or  not.  And  Jacob  went  near  unto  Isaac 
his  father ;  and  he  felt  him,  and  said.  The  voice  is 
Jacob's  voice,  but  the  hands  are  the  hands  of  Esau. 
And  he  discerned  him  not,  because  his  hands  were 
hairy,  as  his  brother  Esau's  hands:  so  he  blessed 
him.    And  he  said.  Art  thou  my  very  son  Esau? 

45 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  lie  said,  I  am,.  And  he  said,  Bring  it  near  to 
me,  and  I  will  eat  of  my  son's  venison,  that  my 
soul  may  bless  thee.  And  he  brought  it  near  to 
him,  and  he  did  eat:  and  he  brought  him  wine, 
and  he  drank.  And  his  father  Isaac  said  unto  him, 
Come  near  now,  and  kiss  me,  my  son.  And  he 
came  near,  and  kissed  him:  and  he  smelled  the 
smell  of  his  raiment,  and  blessed  him,  and  said, 

See,  the  smell  of  my  son  is  as  the  smell 

Of  a  field  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed ; 
Therefore  God  give  thee 

Of  the  dew  of  heaven, 

And  the  fatness  of  the  earth, 

And  plenty  of  corn  and  wine: 
Let  people  serve  thee, 

And  nations  bow  down  to  thee : 
Be  lord  over  thy  brethren, 

And  let  thy  mother 's  sons  bow  down  to  thee : 
Cursed  he  every  one  that  curseth  thee, 

And  blessed  be  he  that  blesseth  thee. 


VISION  OF  JACOB'S  LADDER 

(Genesis  xxviii.    10-22) 

And  Jacob  went  out  from  Beer-sheba,  and  went 
toward  Haran.  And  he  lighted  upon  a  certain 
place,  and  tarried  there  all  night,  because  the  sun 
was  set;  and  he  took  of  the  stones  of  that  place, 
and  put  them  for  his  pillows,  and  lay  down  in  that 

46 


BIBLE   STORIES 

place  to  sleep.  And  he  dreamed,  and  behold  a  lad- 
der set  up  on  the  earth,  and  the  top  of  it  reached 
to  heaven :  and  behold  the  angels  of  God  ascend- 
ing and  descending  on  it.  And,  behold,  the  Lord 
stood  above  it,  and  said,  I  am  the  Lord  God  of 
Abraham  thy  father,  and  the  God  of  Isaac:  the 
land  whereon  thou  liest,  to  thee  will  I  give  it,  and 
to  thy  seed;  and  thy  seed  shall  be  as  the  dust  of 
the  earth;  and  thou  shalt  spread  abroad  to  the 
west,  and  to  the  east,  and  to  the  north,  and  to  the 
south :  and  in  thee  and  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the 
families  of  the  earth  be  blessed.  And,  behold,  I  am 
with  thee,  and  will  keep  thee  in  all  places  whither 
thou  goest,  and  will  bring  thee  again  into  this 
land;  for  I  will  not  leave  thee,  until  I  have  done 
that  which  I  have  spoken  to  thee  of. 

And  Jacob  awaked  out  of  his  sleep,  and  he  said, 
Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this  place;  and  I  knew  it 
not.  And  he  was  afraid,  and  said.  How  dreadful 
is  this  place !  this  is  none  other  but  the  house  of 
God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven.  And  Jacob 
rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  took  the  stone 
that  he  had  put  for  his  pillows,  and  set  it  up  for 
a  pillar,  and  poured  oil  upon  the  top  of  it.  And 
he  called  the  name  of  that  place  Bethel:  but  the 
name  of  that  city  ivas  called  Luz  at  the  first.  And 
Jacob  vowed  a  vow,  saying.  If  God  will  be  with  me, 
and  will  keep  me  in  this  way  that  I  go,  and  will 
give  me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on,  so 
that  I  come  again  to  my  father's  house  in  peace; 
then  shall  the  Lord  be  my  God:  and  this  stone, 

49 


BIBLE  STORIES 

which  I  have  set  for  a  pillar,  shall  be  God's  house : 
and  of  all  that  thou  shalt  give  me  I  will  surely 
give  the  tenth  unto  thee. 

JACOB  LOVES  EACHEL 

(Genesis  xxix.  1-31 ) 

Then  Jacob  went  on  his  journey,  and  came  into 
the  land  of  the  people  of  the  east.  And  he  looked, 
and  behold  a  well  in  the  field,  and,  lo,  there  ivere 
three  flocks  of  sheep  lying  by  it;  for  out  of  that 
well  they  watered  the  flocks:  and  a  great  stone 
was  upon  the  well's  mouth.  And  thither  were 
all  the  flocks  gathered:  and  they  rolled  the  stone 
from  the  well's  mouth,  and  watered  the  sheep,  and 
put  the  stone  again  upon  the  well's  mouth  in  his 
place.  And  Jacob  said  unto  them.  My  brethren, 
whence  he  ye?  And  they  said.  Of  Haran  are  we. 
And  he  said  unto  them.  Know  ye  Laban  the  son  of 
Nahor?  And  they  said,  We  know  him.  And  he 
said  unto  them,  7s  he  well?  And  they  said.  He  is 
well:  and,  behold,  Rachel  his  daughter  cometh 
with  the  sheep.  And  he  said,  Lo,  it  is  yet  high 
day,  neither  is  it  time  that  the  cattle  should  be 
gathered  together:  water  ye  the  sheep,  and  go  and 
feed  them.  And  they  said.  We  cannot,  until  all 
the  flocks  be  gathered  together,  and  till  they  roll 
the  stone  from  the  well's  mouth;  then  we  water 
the  sheep. 

And  while  he  yet  spake  with  them,  Rachel  came 
with  her  father 's  sheep :  for  she  kept  them.    And 

50 


a    ?s» 


R  f^ 


2    i 


BIBLE  STORIES 

it  came  to  pass,  when  Jacob  saw  Rachel  the  daugh- 
ter of  Laban  his  mother's  brother,  and  the  sheep 
of  Laban  his  mother's  brother,  that  Jacob  went 
near,  and  rolled  the  stone  from  the  well's  mouth, 
and  watered  the  flock  of  Laban  his  mother's 
brother.  And  Jacob  kissed  Rachel,  and  lifted  up 
his  voice,  and  wept.  And  Jacob  told  Rachel  that 
he  was  her  father's  brother,  and  that  he  was  Re- 
bekah's  son:  and  she  ran  and  told  her  father. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Laban  heard  the  tidings 
of  Jacob  his  sister's  son,  that  he  ran  to  meet  him, 
and  embraced  him,  and  kissed  him,  and  brought 
him  to  his  house.  And  he  told  Laban  all  these 
things.  And  Laban  said  to  him.  Surely  thou  art 
my  bone  and  my  flesh.  And  he  abode  with  him 
the  space  of  a  month. 

And  Laban  said  unto  Jacob,  Because  thou  art 
my  brother,  shouldest  thou  therefore  serve  me 
for  nought !  tell  me,  what  shall  thy  wages  he?  And 
Laban  had  two  daughters :  the  name  of  the  elder 
was  Leah,  and  the  name  of  the  younger  was  Ra- 
chel. Leah  tvas  tender  eyed ;  but  Rachel  was  beau- 
tiful and  well  favoured.  And  Jacob  loved  Rachel ; 
and  said,  I  will  serve  thee  seven  years  for  Rachel 
thy  younger  daughter.  And  Laban  said.  It  is 
better  that  I  give  her  to  thee,  than  that  I  should 
give  her  to  another  man:  abide  with  me. 

And  Jacob  served  seven  years  for  Rachel ;  and 
they  seemed  unto  him  but  a  few  days,  for  the  love 
he  had  to  her.  And  Jacob  said  unto  Laban,  Give 
me  my   wife,    for   my   days    are   fulfilled.     And 

53 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Laban  gathered  together  all  the  men  of  the 
place,  and  made  a  feast.  And  it  came  to  pass  in 
the  evening,  that  he  took  Leah  his  daughter,  and 
brought  her  to  him;  and  he  (Jacob)  said  to  Laban, 
What  is  this  thou  hast  done  unto  me!  did  not  I 
serve  with  thee  for  Rachel?  wherefore  then  hast 
thou  beguiled  me?  And  Laban  said.  It  must  not 
be  so  done  in  our  country,  to  give  the  younger 
before  the  firstborn:  and  he  gave  him  Rachel  his 
daughter  to  wife  also:  and  he  loved  also  Rachel 
more  than  Leah,  and  served  with  him  yet  seven 
other  years. 

JACOB  IS  CALLED  ISRAEL 

(Genesis  xxxii.  24-32) 

And  Jacob  was  left  alone ;  and  there  wrestled  a 
man  with  him  until  the  breaking  of  the  day.  And 
when  he  saw  that  he  prevailed  not  against  him, 
he  touched  the  hollow  of  his  thigh ;  and  the  hollow 
of  Jacob's  thigh  was  out  of  joint,  as  he  wrestled 
with  him.  And  he  said.  Let  me  go,  for  the  day 
breaketh. 

And  he  said,  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou 
bless  me. 

And  he  said  unto  him.  What  is  thy  name  ?  And 
he  said,  Jacob. 

And  he  said.  Thy  name  shall  be  called  no  more 
Jacob,  but  Israel :  for  as  a  prince  hast  thou  power 
with  God  and  with  men,  and  hast  prevailed. 

And  Jacob  asked  him,  and  said.  Tell  me,  I  pray 

54 


BIBLE  STORIES 

thee,  thy  name.  And  he  said,  Wherefore  is  it  that 
thou  dost  ask  after  my  name?  And  he  blessed 
him  there. 

And  Jacob  called  the  name  of  the  place 
Peniel:  for  I  have  seen  God  face  to  face,  and 
my  life  is  preserved.  And  as  he  passed  over 
Penuel  the  sun  rose  upon  him,  and  he  halted  upon 
his  thigh.  Therefore  the  children  of  Israel  eat 
not  of  the  sinew  which  shrank,  which  is  upon  the 
hollow  of  the  thigh,  unto  this  day;  because  he 
touched  the  hollow  of  Jacob's  thigh  in  the  sinew 
that  shrank. 

THE  TWELVE  SONS  OF  JACOB 

( Genesis  xxxv.  23-27  ) 

Eeuben  Joseph 

Simeon  Benjamin 

Levi  Dan 

Judah  Naphtali 

Issachar  Gad 

Zebulum  Asher 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JOSEPH'S  DREAMS 

(Genesis  xxxvii.  3-11 ) 

Now  Israel  loved  Joseph  more  than  all  his  chil- 
dren, because  he  ivas  the  son  of  his  old  age :  and 
he  made  him  a  coat  of  many  colours.  And  when 
his  brethren  saw  that  their  father  loved  him  more 
than  all  his  brethren,  they  hated  him,  and  could 
not  speak  peaceably  unto  him. 

And  Joseph  dreamed  a  dream,  and  he  told  it 
his  brethren:  and  they  hated  him  yet  the  more. 
And  he  said  unto  them.  Hear,  I  pray  you,  this 
dream  which  I  have  dreamed :  for,  behold,  we  were 
binding  sheaves  in  the  field,  and,  lo,  my  sheaf 
arose,  and  also  stood  upright;  and,  behold,  your 
sheaves  stood  round  about,  and  made  obeisance  to 
my  sheaf.  And  his  brethren  said  to  him,  Shalt 
thou  indeed  reign  over  us?  or  shalt  thou  indeed 
have  dominion  over  us?  And  they  hated  him  yet 
the  more  for  his  dreams,  and  for  his  words. 

And  he  dreamed  yet  another  dream,  and  told 
it  his  brethren,  and  said,  Behold,  I  have  dreamed 
a  dream  more ;  and,  behold,  the  sun  and  the  moon 
and  the  eleven  stars  made  obeisance  to  me.  And 
he  told  it  to  his  father,  and  to  his  brethren:  and 
his  father  rebuked  him,  and  said  unto  him,  What 
is  this  dream  that  thou  hast  dreamed?  Shall  I  and 
thy  mother  and  thy  brethren  indeed  come  to  bow 
down  ourselves  to  thee  to  the  earth?  And  his 
brethren  envied  him;  but  his  father  observed  the 
saying. 

56 


BIBLE   STORIES 

JOSEPH'S  BROTHERS  SELL  HIM 

(Genesis  xxxvii.  12-36) 

And  his  brethren  went  to  feed  their  father's 
flock  in  Shechem.  And  Israel  said  unto  Joseph, 
Do  not  thy  brethren  feed  tlie  flock  in  Shechem? 
come,  and  I  will  send  thee  unto  them.  And  he 
said  to  him.  Here  am  I.  And  he  said  to  him.  Go, 
I  pray  thee,  see  whether  it  be  well  with  thy  breth- 
ren, and  well  with  the  flocks ;  and  bring  me  word 
again.  So  he  sent  him  out  of  the  vale  of  Hebron, 
and  he  came  to  Shechem.  And  a  certain  man 
found  him,  and,  behold,  he  ivas  wandering  in  the 
field:  and  the  man  asked  him,  saying  What  seek- 
est  thou?  And  he  said,  I  seek  my  brethren:  tell 
me,  I  pray  thee,  where  they  feed  their  flocks. 
And  the  man  said.  They  are  departed  hence;  for 
I  heard  them  say,  Let  us  go  to  Dothan.  And  Jo- 
seph went  after  his  brethren,  and  found  them  in 
Dothan. 

And  when  they  saw  him  afar  off,  even  before 
he  came  near  unto  them,  they  conspired  against 
him  to  slay  him.  And  they  said  one  to  another. 
Behold,  this  dreamer  cometh.  Come  now  there- 
fore, and  let  us  sla}^  him,  and  cast  him  into  some 
pit,  and  we  will  sa}^,  Some  evil  beast  hath  devoured 
him:  and  we  shall  see  what  will  become  of  his 
dreams.  And  Reuben  heard  it,  and  he  delivered 
him  out  of  their  hands ;  and  said.  Let  us  not  kill 
him.    And  Reuben  said  unto  them.  Shed  no  blood, 

57 


BIBLE  STORIES 

but  cast  him  into  this  pit  that  is  in  the  wilderness, 
and  lay  no  hand  upon  him ;  that  he  might  rid  him 
out  of  their  hands,  to  deliver  him  to  his  father 
again. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joseph  was  come  unto 
his  brethren,  that  they  stript  Joseph  out  of  his 
coat,  his  coat  of  many  colours  that  was  on  him; 
and  they  took  him,  and  cast  him  into  a  pit:  and 
the  pit  was  empty,  there  ivas  no  water  in  it.  And 
they  sat  down  to  eat  bread :  and  they  lifted  up  their 
eyes  and  looked,  and,  behold,  a  company  of  Ish- 
meelites  came  from  Gilead  with  their  camels  bear- 
ing spicery  and  balm  and  myrrh,  going  to  carry  it 
down  to  Egypt.  And  Judah  said  unto  his  breth- 
ren. What  profit  is  it  if  we  slay  our  brother,  and 
conceal  his  blood?  Come,  and  let  us  sell  him  to 
the  Ishmeelites,  and  let  not  our  hand  be  upon  him ; 
for  he  is  our  brother  and  our  flesh.  And  his 
brethren  were  content. 

Then  there  passed  by  Midianites  merchantmen ; 
and  they  drew  and  lifted  up  Joseph  out  of  the  pit, 
and  sold  Joseph  to  th'e  Ishmeelites  for  twenty 
pieces  of  silver :  and  they  brought  Joseph  into 
Egypt.  And  Reuben  returned  unto  the  pit;  and, 
behold,  Joseph  ivas  not  in  the  pit;  and  he  rent 
his  clothes.  And  he  returned  unto  his  brethren, 
and  said.  The  child  is  not;  and  I,  whither  shall 
I  go? 

And  they  took  Joseph's  coat,  and  killed  a  kid 
of  the  goats,  and  dipped  the  coat  in  the  blood; 
and  they  sent  the  coat  of  many  colours,  and  they 

58 


I— I      ^ 

H     § 

H    «-' 

e 
o   K 


o    S^ 


0^ 


fe 


BIBLE  STORIES 

brought  it  to  their  father ;  and  said,  This  have  we 
found:  know  now  whether  it  be  thy  son's  coat 
or  no.  And  he  knew  it,  and  said,  It  is  my  son's 
coat ;  an  evil  beast  hath  devoured  him ;  Joseph  is 
without  doubt  rent  in  pieces.  And  Jacob  rent  his 
clothes,  and  put  on  sackcloth  upon  his  loins,  and 
mourned  for  his  son  many  days.  And  all  his  sons 
and  all  his  daughters  rose  up  to  comfort  him ;  but 
he  refused  to  be  comforted;  and  he  said,  For  I 
will  go  down  into  the  grave  unto  my  son  mourning. 
Thus  his  father  wept  for  him. 

JOSEPH  IN  EGYPT 

(Genesis  xxxix.  1-6;  xl.  1-23) 

And  Joseph  was  brought  down  to  Egypt;  and 
Potiphar,  an  officer  of  Pharaoh,  captain  of  the 
guard,  an  Egyptian,  bought  him  of  the  hands  of 
the  Jshmaelites,  which  had  brought  him  down 
thither.  And  the  Lord  was  with  Joseph,  and  he 
was  a  prosperous  man;  and  he  was  in  the  house 
of  his  master  the  Egyptian.  And  his  master  saw 
that  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and  that  the  Lord 
made  all  that  he  did  to  prosper  in  his  hand. 
And  Joseph  found  grace  in  his  sight,  and  he 
served  him:  and  he  made  him  overseer  over  his 
house,  and  all  that  he  had  he  put  into  his  hand. 
And  it  came  to  pass  from  the  time  that  he  had 
made  him  overseer  in  his  house,  and  over  all  that 
he  had,  that  the  Lord  blessed  the  Egyptian's  house 
for  Joseph's  sake;  and  the  blessing  of  the  Lord 

61 


BIBLE  STORIES 

was  upon  all  that  lie  had  in  the  house,  and  in 
the  field.  And  he  left  all  that  he  had  in  Joseph's 
hand;  and  he  knew  not  aught  he  had,  save  the 
bread  which  he  did  eat.  And  Joseph  was  a  goodly 
person,  and  well  favoured. 


JOSEPH  FALSELY  ACCUSED 

And  Joseph's  master  took  him,  and  put  him 
into  the  prison,  a  place  where  the  king 's  prisoners 
were  bound :  and  he  was  there  in  the  prison. 

But  the  Lord  was  with  Joseph,  and  shewed  him 
mercy,  and  gave  him  favour  in  the  sight  of  the 
keeper  of  the  prison.  And  the  keeper  of  the  prison 
committed  to  Joseph's  hand  all  the  prisoners  that 
were  in  the  prison ;  and  whatsoever  they  did  there, 
he  was  the  doer  of  it.  The  keeper  of  the  prison 
looked  Hot  to  any  thing  that  was  under  his  hand ; 
because  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and  that  which  he 
did,  the  Lord  made  it  to  prosper. 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things,  that  the 
butler  of  the  king  of  Egypt  and  his  baker  had 
offended  their  lord  the  king  of  Egypt.  And  Pha- 
raoh was  wroth  against  two  of  his  officers,  against 
the  chief  of  the  butlers,  and  against  the  chief  of 
the  bakers.  And  he  put  them  in  ward  in  the  house 
of  the  captain  of  the  guard,  into  the  prison,  the 
place  where  Joseph  was  bound.  And  the  captain 
of  the  guard  charged  Joseph  with  them,  and  he 
served  them :  and  they  continued  a  season  in  ward. 

62 


BIBLE  STORIES 

PHARAOH'S  BUTLER  AND  BAKER  DREAM 
DREAMS 

And  they  dreamed  a  dream  both  of  them,  each 
man  his  dream  in  one  night,  each  man  according- 
to  the  interpretation  of  his  dream,  the  butler  and 
the  baker  of  the  king  of  Egypt,  which  were  bound 
in  the  prison.  And  Joseph  came  in  unto  them 
in  the  morning,  and  looked  upon  them,  and,  behold, 
they  uwre  sad.  And  he  asked  Pharaoh's  officers 
that  were  with  him  in  the  ward  of  his  lord 's  house, 
saying,  "Wherefore  look  ye  so  sadly  to  day?  And 
they  said  unto  him.  We  have  dreamed  a  dream, 
and  there  is  no  interpreter  of  it.  And  Joseph  said 
unto  them,  Do  not  interpretations  belong  to  God! 
tell  me  them,  I  pray  you. 

And  the  chief  butler  told  his  dream  to  Joseph, 
and  said  to  him.  In  my  dream,  behold,  a  vine  was 
before  me;  and  in  the  vine  tvere  three  branches: 
and  it  was  as  though  it  budded,  and  her  blossoms 
shot  forth ;  and  the  clusters  thereof  brought  forth 
ripe  grapes  :  and  Pharaoh 's  cup  ivas  in  my  hand : 
and  I  took  the  grapes,  and  pressed  them  into 
Pharaoh's  cup,  and  I  gave  the  cup  into  Pharaoh's 
hand.  And  Joseph  said  unto  him.  This  is  the  in- 
terpretation of  it:  The  three  branches  are  three 
days :  yet  within  three  days  shall  Pharaoh  lift 
up  thine  head,  and  restore  thee  unto  thy  place : 
and  thou  shalt  deliver  Pharaoh's  cup  into  his 
hand,  after  the  former  manner  when  thou  wast  his 
butler.    But  think  on  me  when  it  shall  be  well  with 

63 


BIBLE  STORIES 

thee,  and  shew  kindness,  I  pray  thee,  unto  me,  and 
make  mention  of  me  unto  Pharaoh,  and  bring  me 
out  of  this  house :  for  indeed  I  was  stolen  away  out 
of  the  land  of  the  Hebrews :  and  here  also  have  I 
done  nothing  that  they  should  put  me  into  the 
dungeon. 

When  the  chief  baker  saw  that  the  interpreta- 
tion was  good,  he  said  unto  Joseph,  I  also  ivas 
in  my  dream,  and,  behold,  I  had  three  white  bas- 
kets on  my  head:  and  in  the  uppermost  basket 
there  was  of  all  manner  of  bakemeats  for  Pha- 
raoh ;  and  the  birds  did  eat  them  out  of  the  basket 
upon  my  head.  And  Joseph  answered  and  said. 
This  is  the  interpretation  thereof :  The  three  bas- 
kets are  three  days:  yet  within  three  days  shall 
Pharaoh  lift  up  thy  head  from  off  thee,  and  shall 
hang  thee  on  a  tree;  and  the  birds  shall  eat  thy 
flesh  from  off  thee.  And  it  came  to  pass  the 
third  day,  which  was  Pharaoh's  birthday,  that  he 
made  a  feast  unto  all  his  servants :  and  he  lifted 
up  the  head  of  the  chief  butler  and  of  the  chief 
baker  among  his  servants.  And  he  restored  the 
chief  butler  unto  his  butlership  again ;  and  he  gave 
the  cup  into  Pharaoh's  hand:  but  he  hanged  the 
chief  baker:  as  Joseph  had  interpreted  to  them. 
Yet  did  not  the  chief  butler  remember  Joseph,  but 
f  orgat  him. 


BIBLE  STORIES 


JOSEPH  INTERPEETETH  PHARAOH'S 
DREAMS 

(Genesis  xli.  1-44) 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  two  full  years, 
that  Pharaoh  dreamed:  and,  behold,  he  stood  by 
the  river.  And,  behold,  there  came  up  out  of  the 
river  seven  well  favoured  kine  and  fat-fleshed; 
and  they  fed  in  a  meadow.  And,  behold,  seven 
other  kine  came  up  after  them  out  of  the  river,  ill 
favoured  and  leanfleshed ;  and  stood  by  the  other 
kine  upon  the  brink  of  the  river.  And  the  ill  fa- 
voured and  leanfleshed  kine  did  eat  up  the  seven 
well  favoured  and  fat  kine.     So  Pharaoh  awoke. 

And  he  slept  and  dreamed  the  second  time :  and, 
behold,  seven  ears  of  corn  came  up  upon  one  stalk, 
rank  and  good.  And,  behold,  seven  thin  ears  and 
blasted  with  the  east  wind  sprung  up  after  them. 
And  the  seven  thin  ears  devoured  the  seven  rank 
and  full  ears.  And  Pharaoh  awoke,  and,  behold, 
it  urns  a  dream. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning  that  his 
spirit  was  troubled ;  and  he  sent  and  called  for  all 
the  magicians  of  Egypt,  and  all  the  wise  men 
thereof:  and  Pharaoh  told  them  his  dream;  but 
there  was  none  that  could  interpret  them  unto 
Pharaoh.  Then  spake  the  chief  butler  unto  Pha- 
raoh, saying,  I  do  remember  my  faults  this  day: 
Pharaoh  was  wroth  with  his  servants,  and  put 
me  in  ward  in  the  captain  of  the  guard's  house, 

65 


BIBLE  STORIES 

both  me  and  the  chief  baker:  and  we  dreamed  a 
dream  in  one  night,  I  and  he;  we  dreamed  each 
man  according  to  the  interpretation  of  his  dream. 
And  there  tvas  there  with  us  a  young  man,  an  He- 
brew, servant  to  the  captain  of  the  guard;  and 
we  told  him,  and  ho  interpreted  to  us  our  dreams ; 
to  each  man  according  to  his  dream  he  did  inter- 
pret. And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  interpreted  to  us, 
so  it  was ;  me  he  restored  unto  mine  office,  and  him 
he  hanged. 

Then  Pharaoh  sent  and  called  Joseph,  and  they 
brought  him  hastily  out  of  the  dungeon:  and  he 
shaved  himself,  and  changed  his  raiment,  and 
came  in  unto  Pharaoh.  And  Pharaoh  said  unto 
Joseph,  I  have  dreamed  a  dream,  and  there  is 
none  that  can  interpret  it :  and  I  have  heard  say 
of  thee,  that  thou  canst  understand  a  dream  to 
interpret  it.  And  Joseph  answered  Pharaoh,  say- 
ing. It  is  not  in  me:  God  shall  give  Pharaoh  an 
answer  of  peace. 

And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  In  my  dream, 
behold,  I  stood  upon  the  bank  of  the  river:  and, 
behold,  there  came  up  out  of  the  river  seven  kine, 
fatfleshed  and  well  favoured;  and  they  fed  in  a 
meadow:  and,  behold,  seven  other  kine  came  up 
after  them,  poor  and  very  ill  favoured  and  lean- 
fleshed,  such  as  I  never  saw  in  all  the  land  of 
Egypt  for  badness:  and  the  lean  and  the  ill  fa- 
voured kine  did  eat  up  the  first  seven  fat  kine: 
and  when  they  had  eaten  them  up,  it  could  not  be 
known  that  they  had  eaten  them;  but  they  tvere 

66 


BIBLE  STORIES 

still  ill  favoured,  as  at  the  beginning.  So  I  awoke. 
And  I  saw  in  my  dream,  and,  behold,  seven  ears 
came  up  in  one  stalk,  full  and  good:  and,  behold, 
seven  ears,  withered,  thin,  cuid  blasted  with  the 
east  wind,  sprung  up  after  them:  and  the  thin 
ears  devoured  the  seven  good  ears :  and  I  told  this 
unto  the  magicians ;  but  there  was  none  that  could 
declare  it  to  me. 

And  Joseph  said  unto  Pharaoh,  The  dream  of 
Pharaoh  is  one :  God  hath  shewed  Pharaoh  what 
he  is  about  to  do.  The  seven  good  kine  are  seven 
years ;  and  the  seven  good  ears  are  seven  years : 
the  dream  is  one.  And  the  seven  thin  and  ill  fa- 
voured kine  that  came  up  after  them  are  seven 
years ;  and  the  seven  empty  ears  blasted  with  the 
east  wind  shall  be  seven  years  of  famine.  This  is 
the  thing  which  I  have  spoken  unto  Pharaoh: 
What  Grod  is  about  to  do  he  sheweth  unto  Pharaoh. 
Behold,  there  come  seven  years  of  great  plenty 
throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt :  and  there  shall 
arise  after  them  seven  years  of  famine;  and  all 
the  plenty  shall  be  forgotten  in  the  land  of  Egypt ; 
and  the  famine  shall  consume  the  land;  and  the 
plenty  shall  not  be  known  in  the  land  by  reason 
of  that  famine  following;  for  it  shall  he  very 
grievous.  And  for  that  the  dream  was  doubled 
unto  Pharaoh  twice,  it  is  because  the  thing  is  estab- 
lished by  God,  and  God  will  shortly  bring  it  to 
pass.  Now  therefore  let  Pharaoh  look  out  a  man 
discreet  and  wise,  and  set  him  over  the  land  of 
Egypt.    Let  Pharaoh  do  this,  and  let  him  appoint 

67 


BIBLE  STORIES 

officers  over  the  land,  and  take  up  the  fifth  part 
of  the  land  of  Egypt  in  the  seven  plenteous  years. 
And  let  them  gather  all  the  food  of  those  good 
years  that  come,  and  lay  up  corn  under  the  hand 
of  Pharaoh,  and  let  them  keep  food  m  the  cities. 
And  that  food  shall  be  for  store  to  the  land  against 
the  seven  years  of  famine,  which  shall  be  in  the 
land  of  Egypt;  that  the  land  perish  not  through 
the  famine. 

Joseph  Is  Made  Goveenok  of  Egypt 

And  the  thing  was  good  in  the  eyes  of  Pharaoh, 
and  in  the  eyes  of  all  his  servants.  And  Pharaoh 
said  unto  his  servants.  Can  we  find  such  a  one 
as  this  is,  a  man  in  whom  the  Spirit  of  God  is9 
And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  Forasmuch  as 
God  hath  shewed  thee  all  this,  there  is  none  so  dis- 
creet and  wise  as  thou  art :  thou  shalt  be  over  my 
house,  and  according  unto  thy  word  shall  all  my 
people  be  ruled :  only  in  the  throne  will  I  be  greater 
than  thou.  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  See, 
I  have  set  thee  over  all  the  land  of  Egypt.  And 
Pharaoh  took  off  his  ring  from  his  hand,  and  put 
it  upon  Joseph's  hand,  and  arrayed  him  in  ves- 
tures of  fine  linen,  and  put  a  gold  chain  about  his 
neck ;  and  he  made  him  to  ride  in  the  second  chariot 
which  he  had;  and  they  cried  before  him.  Bow 
the  knee :  and  he  made  him  ruler  over  all  the  land 
of  Egypt.  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  I  am 
Pharaoh,  and  without  thee  shall  no  man  lift  up  his 
hand  or  foot  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 

68 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JOSEPH  LAYS  UP  CORN  IN  EGYPT 

(Genesis  xli.  46-57) 

And  Joseph  was  thirty  years  old  when  he  stood 
before  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt.  And  Joseph  went 
out  from  the  presence  of  Pharaoh,  and  went 
throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  in  the 
seven  plenteous  j^ears  the  earth  brought  forth  by 
handfuls.  And  he  gathered  up  all  the  food  of 
the  seven  years,  which  were  in  the  land  of  Egypt, 
and  laid  up  the  food  in  the  cities :  the  food  of  the 
field,  which  ivas  round  about  every  city,  laid  he 
up  in  the  same.  And  Joseph  gathered  corn  as  the 
sand  of  the  sea,  very  much,  until  he  left  number- 
ing; for  it  ivas  without  number. 

And  the  seven  years  of  plenteousness,  that  was 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  were  ended.  And  the  seven 
years  of  dearth  began  to  come,  according  as  Jo- 
seph had  said:  and  the  dearth  was  in  all  lands; 
but  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt  there  was  bread.  And 
when  all  the  land  of  Egypt  was  famished,  the  peo- 
ple cried  to  Pharaoh  for  bread :  and  Pharaoh  said 
unto  all  the  Egyptians,  Go  unto  Joseph;  what  he 
saith  to  you,  do.  And  the  famine  was  over  all 
the  face  of  the  earth:  and  Joseph  opened  all  the 
storehouses,  and  sold  unto  the  Egyptians ;  and  the 
famine  waxed  sore  in  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  all 
countries  came  into  Egypt  to  Joseph  for  to  buy 
corn;  because  that  the  famine  was  so  sore  in  all 
lands. 

69 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JOSEPH'S  TEN  BROTHEES  COME 
TO  BUY  CORN 

(Genesis  xlii.  1-38) 

Now  when  Jacob  saw  that  there  was  corn  in 
Egypt,  Jacob  said  unto  his  sons,  Why  do  ye  look 
one  upon  another?  And  he  said,  Behold,  I  have 
heard  that  there  is  corn  in  Egypt:  get  you  down 
thither,  and  buy  for  us  from  thence ;  that  we  may 
live,  and  not  die.  And  Joseph's  ten  brethren 
went  down  to  buy  corn  in  Egypt.  But  Benjamin, 
Joseph's  brother,  Jacob  sent  not  with  his  breth- 
ren ;  for  he  said.  Lest  peradventure  mischief  befall 
him. 

And  the  sons  of  Israel  came  to  buy  corn  among 
those  that  came :  for  the  famine  was  in  the  land  of 
Canaan.  And  Joseph  was  the  governor  over  the 
land,  and  he  it  was  that  sold  to  all  the  people  of 
the  land:  and  Joseph's  brethren  came,  and  bowed 
down  themselves  before  him  ivith  their  faces  to 
the  earth.  And  Joseph  saw  his  brethren,  and  he 
knew  them,  but  made  himself  strange  unto  them, 
and  spake  roughly  unto  them ;  and  he  said  unto 
them.  Whence  come  ye?  And  they  said.  From 
the  land  of  Canaan  to  buy  food. 

And  Joseph  knew  his  brethren,  but  they  knew 
not  him.  And  Joseph  remembered  the  dreams 
which  he  dreamed  of  them,  and  said  unto  them.  Ye 
are  spies ;  to  see  the  nakedness  of  the  land  ye  are 
come.    And  they  said  unto  him.  Nay,  my  lord,  but 

70 


BIBLE  STORIES 

to  buy  food  are  thy  servants  come.  "We  are  all 
one  man's  sons;  we  are  true  meyi,  thy  servants 
are  no  spies.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Nay,  but  to 
see  the  nakedness  of  the  land  ye  are  come.  And 
they  said,  Thy  servants  are  twelve  brethren,  the 
sons  of  one  man  in  the  land  of  Canaan;  and,  be- 
hold, the  youngest  is  this  day  with  our  father,  and 
one  is  not. 

And  Joseph  said  unto  them,  That  is  it  that  I 
spake  unto  you,  saying.  Ye  are  spies:  hereby  ye 
shall  be  proved:  by  the  life  of  Pharaoh  ye  shall 
not  go  forth  hence,  except  your  youngest  brother 
come  hither.  Send  one  of  you,  and  let  him  fetch 
5'our  brother,  and  ye  shall  be  kept  in  prison,  that 
your  words  may  be  proved,  whether  there  he  any 
truth  in  you :  or  else  by  the  life  of  Pharaoh  surely 
ye  are  spies.  And  he  put  them  all  together  into 
ward  three  days.  And  Joseph  said  unto  them  the 
third  day.  This  do,  and  live;  for  I  fear  God: 
if  ye  he  true  men,  let  one  of  your  brethren  be 
bound  in  the  house  of  your  prison:  go  ye,  carry 
corn  for  the  famine  of  your  houses :  but  bring  your 
youngest  brother  unto  me;  so  shall  your  words 
be  verified,  and  ye  shall  not  die.    And  they  did  so. 

And  they  said  one  to  another.  We  are  verily 
guilty  concerning  our  brother,  in  that  we  saw  the 
anguish  of  his  soul,  when  he  besought  us,  and  we 
would  not  hear;  therefore  is  this  distress  come 
upon  us.  And  Reuben  answered  them,  saying, 
Spake  I  not  unto  you,  saying.  Do  not  sin  against 
the  child;  and  ye  would  not  hear?  therefore,  be- 

71 


BIBLE  STORIES 

hold,  also  his  blood  is  required.  And  they  knew 
not  that  Joseph  understood  them;  for  he  spake 
unto  them  by  an  interpreter.  And  he  turned  him- 
self about  from  them,  and  wept ;  and  returned  to 
them  again,  and  communed  with  them,  and  took 
from  them  Simeon,  and  bound  him  before  their 
eyes. 

Then  Joseph  commanded  to  fill  their  sacks  with 
corn,  and  to  restore  every  man's  money  into  his 
sack,  and  to  give  them  provision  for  the  way :  and 
thus  did  he  unto  them.  And  they  laded  their  asses 
with  the  corn,  and  departed  thence.  And  as  one 
of  them  opened  his  sack  to  give  his  ass  provender 
in  the  inn,  he  espied  his  money ;  for,  behold,  it  was 
in  his  sack's  mouth.  And  he  said  unto  his  breth- 
ren, My  money  is  restored;  and,  lo,  it  is  even  in 
my  sack:  and  their  heart  failed  them,  and  they 
were  afraid,  saying  one  to  another,  What  is  this 
that  God  hath  done  unto  us  ? 

And  they  came  unto  Jacob  their  father  unto  the 
land  of  Canaan,  and  told  him  all  that  befell  unto 
them ;  saying,  The  man,  ivho  is  the  lord  of  the  land, 
spake  roughly  to  us,  and  took  us  for  spies  of  the 
country.  And  we  said  unto  him.  We  are  true  m,en; 
we  are  no  spies :  we  be  twelve  brethren,  sons  of  our 
father;  one  is  not,  and  the  youngest  is  this  day 
with  our  father  in  the  land  of  Canaan.  And  the 
man,  the  lord  of  the  country,  said  unto  us.  Hereby 
shall  I  know  that  ye  are  true  men;  leave  one  of 
your  brethren  here  with  me,  and  take  food  for 
the  famine  of  your  households,  and  be  gone :  and 

72 


BIBLE  STORIES 

bring  your  youngest  brother  unto  me :  then  shall 
I  know  that  ye  are  no  spies,  but  that  ye  are  true 
men:  so  will  I  deliver  you  your  brother,  and  ye 
shall  traffick  in  the  land. 

And  it  came  to  pass  as  they  emptied  their  sacks, 
that,  behold,  every  man's  bundle  of  money  was 
in  his  sack :  and  when  both  they  and  their  father 
saw  the  bundles  of  money,  they  were  afraid. 

BENJAMIN  GOES  TO  EGYPT 

(Genesis  xliii.  1-34) 

And  the  famine  was  sore  in  the  land.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  when  they  had  eaten  up  the  corn 
which  they  had  brought  out  of  Egypt,  their  father 
said  unto  them,  Go  again,  buy  us  a  little  food. 
And  Judah  spake  unto  him,  saying.  The  man  did 
solemnly  protest  unto  us,  saying.  Ye  shall  not  see 
my  face,  except  your  brother  he  with  you.  If  thou 
wilt  send  our  brother  with  us,  we  will  go  down  and 
buy  thee  food:  but  if  thou  wilt  not  send  him,  we 
will  not  go  down:  for  the  man  said  unto  us.  Ye 
shall  not  see  my  face,  except  your  brother  he  with 
you.  And  Israel  said.  Wherefore  dealt  ye  so  ill 
with  me,  as  to  tell  the  man  whether  ye  had  yet  a 
brother? 

And  they  said.  The  man  asked  us  straitly  of  our 
state,  and  of  our  kindred,  saying.  Is  your  father 
yet  alive?  have  ye  another  brother?  and  we  told 
him  according  to  the  tenor  of  these  words :  Could 
we  certainly  know  that  he  would  say,  Bring  your 

73 


BIBLE  STORIES 

brother  down?  And  Judah  said  unto  Israel  his 
father,  Send  the  lad  with  me,  and  we  will  arise  and 
go;  that  we  may  live,  and  not  die,  both  we,  and 
thou,  and  also  our  little  ones.  I  will  be  surety  for 
him ;  of  my  hand  shalt  thou  require  him :  if  I  bring 
him  not  unto  thee,  and  set  him  before  thee,  then  let 
me  bear  the  blame  for  ever:  for  except  we  had 
lingered,  surely  now  we  had  returned  this  second 
time. 

And  their  father  Israel  said  unto  them.  If  it 
must  be  so  now,  do  this ;  take  of  the  best  fruits  in 
the  land  in  your  vessels,  and  carry  down  the  man 
a  present,  a  little  balm,  and  a  little  honey,  spices 
and  myrrh,  nuts  and  almonds :  and  take  double 
money  in  your  hand;  and  the  money  that  was 
brought  again  in  the  mouth  of  your  sacks,  carry  it 
again  in  your  hand ;  peradventure  it  ivas  an  over- 
sight :  take  also  your  brother,  and  arise,  go  again 
unto  the  man :  and  God  Almighty  give  you  mercy 
before  the  man,  that  he  may  send  away  your 
other  brother,  and  Benjamin.  If  I  be  bereaved  of 
my  children,  I  am  bereaved.  And  the  men  took 
that  present,  and  they  took  double  money  in  their 
hand,  and  Benjamin;  and  rose  up,  and  went  down 
to  Egypt,  and  stood  before  Joseph. 

And  when  Joseph  saw  Benjamin  with  them,  he 
said  to  t]ie  ruler  of  his  house,  Bring  these  men 
home,  and  slay,  and  make  ready;  for  these  men 
shall  dine  with  me  at  noon.  And  the  man  did  as 
Joseph  bade;  and  the  man  brought  the  men  into 
Joseph 's  house.    And  the  men  were  afraid,  because 

74 


BIBLE  STORIES 

tliey  were  brought  into  Joseph's  house;  and  they 
said,  Because  of  the  money  that  was  returned  in 
our  sacks  at  the  first  time  are  we  brought  in ;  that 
lie  may  seek  occasion  against  us,  and  fall  upon 
us,  and  take  us  for  bondmen,  and  our  asses. 
And  they  came  near  to  the  steward  of  Joseph's 
house,  and  they  communed  with  him  at  the  door  of 
the  house,  and  said,  0  sir,  we  came  indeed  down 
at  the  first  time  to  buy  food :  and  it  came  to  pass, 
when  we  came  to  the  inn,  that  we  opened  our  sacks, 
and,  behold,  every  man's  money  ivas  in  the  mouth 
of  his  sack,  our  money  in  full  weight :  and  we  have 
brought  it  again  in  our  hand.  And  other  money 
have  we  brought  down  in  our  hands  to  buy  food: 
we  cannot  tell  who  put  our  money  in  our  sacks. 
And  he  said,  Peace  he  to  you,  fear  not :  your  God, 
and  the  God  of  your  father,  hath  given  you  treas- 
ure in  your  sacks:  I  had  your  money.  And  he 
brought  Simeon  out  unto  them. 

And  the  man  brought  the  men  into  Joseph's 
house,  and  gave  them  water,  and  they  washed  their 
feet;  and  he  gave  their  asses  provender.  And 
they  made  ready  the  present  against  Joseph  came 
at  noon :  for  they  heard  that  they  should  eat  bread 
there.  And  when  Joseph  came  home,  they  brought 
him  the  present  which  ivas  in  their  hand  into  the 
house,  and  bowed  themselves  to  him  to  the  earth. 
And  he  asked  them  of  their  welfare,  and  said,  Is 
your  father  well,  the  old  man  of  whom  ye  spake? 
75  he  yet  alive  ?  And  they  answered,  Thy  servant 
our  father  is  in  good  health,  he  is  yet  alive.    And 

75 


BIBLE  STORIES 

they  bowed  down  their  heads,  and  made  obeisance. 
And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw  his  brother 
Benjamin,  his  mother's  son,  and  said,  7s  this  your 
younger  brother,  of  whom  ye  spake  unto  me  ?  And 
he  said,  God  be  gracious  unto  thee,  my  son.  And 
Joseph  made  haste ;  for  his  bowels  did  yearn  upon 
his  brother :  and  he  sought  where  to  weep ;  and  he 
entered  into  his  chamber,  and  wept  there.  And 
he  washed  his  face,  and  went  out,  and  refrained 
himself,  and  said,  Set  on  bread.  And  they  set  on 
for  him  by  himself,  and  for  them  by  themselves, 
and  for  the  Egyptians,  which  did  eat  with  him, 
by  themselves:  because  the  Egyptians  might  not 
eat  bread  with  the  Hebrews ;  for  that  is  an  abom- 
ination unto  the  Egyptians.  And  they  sat  before 
him,  the  firstborn  according  to  his  birthright,  and 
the  youngest  according  to  his  youth :  and  the  men 
marvelled  one  at  another.  And  he  took  and  sent 
messes  unto  them  from  before  him:  but  Ben- 
jamin's mess  was  five  times  so  much  as  any  of 
theirs.  And  they  drank,  and  were  merry  with 
him. 

THE  SILVER  CUP 

(Genesis  xliv.  1-13) 

And  he  commanded  the  steward  of  his  house, 
saying.  Fill  the  men's  sacks  with  food,  as  much  as 
they  can  carry,  and  put  every  man 's  money  in  his 
sack 's  mouth.  And  put  my  cup,  the  silver  cup,  in 
the  sack's  mouth  of  the  youngest,  and  his  corn 

76 


BIBLE  STORIES 

money.  And  he  did  according  to  the  word  that 
Joseph  had  spoken.  As  soon  as  the  morning  was 
light,  the  men  were  sent  away,  they  and  their 
asses.  And  when  they  were  gone  out  of  the  city, 
and  not  yet  far  off,  Joseph  said  unto  his  steward, 
Up,  follow  after  the  men;  and  when  thou  dost 
overtake  them,  say  unto  them.  Wherefore  have  ye 
rewarded  evil  for  good?  Is  not  this  it  in  which 
my  lord  drinketh,  and  whereby  indeed  he  divineth? 
ye  have  done  evil  in  so  doing. 

And  he  overtook  them,  and  he  spake  unto  them, 
these  same  words.  And  they  said  unto  him, 
Wherefore  saith  my  lord  these  words?  God  for- 
bid that  thy  servants  should  do  according  to  this 
thing:  behold,  the  money,  which  we  found  in  our 
sacks '  mouths,  we  brought  again  unto  thee  out  of 
the  land  of  Canaan :  how  then  should  we  steal  out 
of  thy  lord's  house  silver  or  gold?  With  whom- 
soever of  thy  servants  it  be  found,  both  let  him 
die,  and  we  also  will  be  my  lord's  bondmen.  And 
he  said.  Now  also  let  it  he  according  unto  your 
words:  he  with  whom  it  is  found  shall  be  my 
servant;  and  ye  shall  be  blameless. 

Then  they  speedily  took  down  every  man  his 
sack  to  the  ground,  and  opened  every  man  his 
sack.  And  he  searched,  and  began  at  the  eldest, 
and  left  at  the  youngest :  and  the  cup  was  found 
in  Benjamin's  sack.  Then  they  rent  their  clothes, 
and  laded  every  man  his  ass,  and  returned  to  the 
city. 


77 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JUDAH  PLEADS  FOR  BENJAMIN 

(Genesis  xliv.  14-34) 

And  Judah  and  his  brethren  came  to  Joseph's 
house ;  for  he  was  yet  there :  and  they  fell  before 
him  on  the  ground.  And  Joseph  said  unto  them, 
What  deed  is  this  that  ye  have  done?  wot  ye  not 
that  such  a  man  as  I  can  certainly  divine?  And 
Judah  said,  What  shall  we  say  unto  my  lord?  what 
shall  we  speak?  or  how  shall  we  clear  ourselves? 
God  hath  found  out  the  iniquity  of  thy  servants : 
behold,  we  are  my  lord's  servants,  both  we,  and 
he  also  with  whom  the  cup  is  found.  And  he  said, 
God  forbid  that  I  should  do  so:  but  the  man  in 
whose  hand  the  cup  is  found,  he  shall  be  my  serv- 
^ant ;  and  as  for  you,  get  you  up  in  peace  unto  your 
father. 

Then  Judah  came  near  unto  him,  and  said,  0 
my  lord,  let  thy  servant,  I  pray  thee,  speak  a  word 
in  my  lord's  ears,  and  let  not  thine  anger  burn 
against  thy  servant :  for  thou  art  even  as  Pharaoh. 
My  lord  asked  his  servants,  saying.  Have  ye  a 
father,  or  a  brother?  And  we  said  unto  my  lord. 
We  have  a  father,  an  old  man,  and  a  child  of  his 
old  age,  a  little  one ;  and  his  brother  is  dead,  and 
he  alone  is  left  of  his  mother,  and  his  father  loveth 
him.  And  thou  saidst  unto  thy  servants.  Bring 
him  down  unto  me,  that  I  may  set  mine  eyes  upon 
him.  And  we  said  unto  my  lord,  the  lad  cannot 
leave  his  father :  for  if  he  should  leave  his  father, 

78 


BIBLE  STORIES 

his  father  would  die.  And  thou  saidst  unto  thy 
servants,  Except  your  youngest  brother  come 
down  with  you,  ye  shall  see  my  face  no  more.  And 
it  came  to  pass  when  we  came  up  unto  thy  servant 
my  father,  we  told  him  the  words  of  my  lord.  And 
our  father  said.  Go  again,  and  buy  us  a  little  food. 
And  we  said.  We  cannot  go  down :  if  our  youngest 
brother  be  with  us,  then  will  we  go  down :  for  we 
may  not  see  the  man's  face,  except  our  youngest 
brother  he  with  us.  And  thy  servant  my  father 
said  unto  us.  Ye  know  that  my  wife  bare  me  two 
sons:  and  the  one  went  out  from  me,  and  I  said, 
Surely  he  is  torn  in  pieces;  and  I  saw  him  not 
since :  and  if  ye  take  this  also  from  me,  and  mis- 
chief befall  him,  ye  shall  bring  down  my  gray 
hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  Now  therefore 
when  I  come  to  thy  servant  my  father,  and  the 
lad  be  not  with  us;  seeing  that  his  life  is  bound 
up  in  the  lad's  life;  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when 
he  seeth  that  the  lad  is  not  with  us,  that  he  will 
die:  and  thy  servants  shall  bring  down  the  gray 
hairs  of  thy  servant  our  father  with  sorrow  to  the 
grave.  For  thy  servant  became  surety  for  the  lad 
unto  my  father,  saying,  If  I  bring  him  not  unto 
thee,  then  I  shall  bear  the  blame  to  my  father  for 
ever.  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  let  thy  servant 
abide  instead  of  the  lad  a  bondman  to  my  lord; 
and  let  the  lad  go  up  with  his  brethren.  For  how 
shall  I  go  up  to  my  father,  and  the  lad  be  not  with 
me?  lest  peradventure  I  see  the  evil  that  shall 
come  on  my  father. 

79 


BIBLE  STORIES 


JOSEPH  SAYS  TO  HIS  BROTHERS, 
''I  AM  JOSEPH" 

( Genesis  xlv.  1-28) 

Then  Joseph  could  not  refrain  himself  before 
all  them  that  stood  by  him;  and  he  cried,  Cause 
every  man  to  go  out  from  me.  And  there  stood  no 
man  with  him,  while  Joseph  made  himself  known 
unto  his  brethren.  And  he  wept  aloud:  and  the 
Egyptians  and  the  house  of  Pharaoh  heard.  And 
Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  I  am  Joseph ;  doth 
my  father  yet  live!  And  his  brethren  could  not 
answer  him;  for  they  were  troubled  at  his 
presence. 

And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren.  Come  near 
to  me,  I  pray  you.  And  they  came  near.  And  he 
said,  I  am  Joseph  your  brother,  whom  ye  sold 
into  Egypt.  Now  therefore  be  not  grieved,  nor 
angry  with  yourselves,  that  ye  sold  me  hither: 
for  God  did  send  me  before  you  to  preserve  life. 
For  these  two  years  hath  the  famine  heen  in  the 
land:  and  yet  there  are  five  years,  in  the  which 
there  shall  neither  he  earing  nor  harvest.  And 
God  sent  me  before  you  to  preserve  you  a  pos- 
terity in  the  earth,  and  to  save  your  lives  by  a 
great  deliverance.  So  now  it  was  not  you  that 
sent  me  hither,  but  God:  and  he  hath  made  me  a 
father  to  Pharaoh,  and  lord  of  all  his  house,  and  a 
ruler  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt.  Haste  ye, 
and  go  up  to  my  father,  and  say  unto  him.  Thus 

80 


BIBLE  STORIES 

saith  thy  son  Joseph,  God  hath  made  me  lord  of 
all  Egypt :  come  down  unto  me,  tarry  not ;  and 
thou  shalt  dwell  in  the  land  of  Goshen,  and  thou 
shalt  be  near  unto  me,  thou,  and  thy  children,  and 
thy  children's  children,  and  thy  flocks,  and  thy 
herds,  and  all  that  thou  hast:  and  there  will  I 
nourish  thee;  for  yet  there  are  five  years  of 
famine ;  lest  thou,  and  thy  household,  and  all  that 
thou  hast,  come  to  poverty.  And,  behold,  your 
eyes  see,  and  the  eyes  of  my  brother  Benjamin, 
that  it  is  my  mouth  that  speaketh  unto  you.  And 
ye  shall  tell  my  father  of  all  my  glory  in  Egypt, 
and  of  all  that  ye  have  seen;  and  ye  shall  haste 
and  bring  down  my  father  hither. 

And  he  fell  upon  his  brother  Benjamin's  neck, 
and  wept;  and  Benjamin  wept  upon  his  neck. 
Moreover  he  kissed  all  his  brethren,  and  wept 
upon  them:  and  after  that  his  brethren  talked 
with  him.  And  the  fame  thereof  was  heard  in 
Pharaoh's  house,  saying,  Joseph's  brethren  are 
come :  and  it  pleased  Pharaoh  well,  and  his 
servants. 

And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  Say  unto  thy 
brethren.  This  do  ye ;  lade  your  beasts,  and  go,  get 
you  unto  the  land  of  Canaan;  and  take  your 
father  and  your  households,  and  come  unto  me: 
and  I  will  give  you  the  good  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
and  ye  shall  eat  the  fat  of  the  land.  Now  thou  art 
commanded,  this  do  ye;  take  you  wagons  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt  for  your  little  ones,  and  for  your 
wives,  and  bring  your  father,  and  come.     Also 

81 


BIBLE  STORIES 

regard  not  your  stuff;  for  the  good  of  all  the  land 
of  Egypt  is  yours. 

And  the  children  of  Israel  did  so:  and  Joseph 
gave  them  wagons,  according  to  the  commandment 
of  Pharaoh,  and  gave  them  provision  for  the  way. 
To  all  of  them  he  gave  each  man  changes  of  rai- 
ment; but  to  Benjamin  he  gave  three  hundred 
pieces  of  silver,  and  five  changes  of  raiment.  And 
to  his  father  he  sent  after  this  manner;  ten  asses 
laden  with  the  good  things  of  Egypt,  and  ten  she 
asses  laden  with  corn  and  bread  and  meat  for  his 
father  by  the  way.  So  he  sent  his  brethren  away, 
and  they  departed:  and  he  said  unto  them.  See 
that  ye  fall  not  out  by  the  way. 

And  they  went  up  out  of  Egypt,  and  came  into 
the  land  of  Canaan  unto  Jacob  their  father.  And 
told  him,  saying,  Joseph  is  yet  alive,,  and  he  is  gov- 
ernor over  all  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  Jacob's 
heart  fainted,  for  he  believed  them  not.  And  they 
told  him  all  the  words  of  Joseph,  which  he  had  said 
unto  them:  and  when  he  saw  the  wagons  which 
Joseph  had  sent  to  carry  him,  the  spirit  of  Jacob 
their  father  revived :  and  Israel  said.  It  is  enough ; 
Joseph  my  son  is  yet  alive :  I  will  go  and  see  him 
before  I  die. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JACOB  COMES  TO  SEE  JOSEPH 

( Genesis  xlvi.  1-6,28-34;  xlvi.  1-10) 

And  Israel  took  his  journey  with  all  that  he  had, 
and  came  to  Beer-sheba,  and  offered  sacrifices 
uiitD  the  God  of  his  father  Isaac.  And  God  spake 
unto  Israel  in  the  visions  of  the  night,  and  eaid, 
Jacob,  Jacob.  And  he  said,  Here  am  I.  And  he 
said,  I  am  God,  the  God  of  thy  father :  fear  not  to 
go  down  into  Egypt ;  for  I  will  there  make  of  thee 
a  great  nation.  I  will  go  down  with  thee  into 
Egypt;  and  I  will  also  surely  bring  thee  up  again: 
and  Joseph  shall  put  his  hand  upon  thine  eyes. 

And  Jacob  rose  up  from  Beer-sheba:  and  the 
sons  of  Israel  carried  Jacob  their  father,  and  their 
little  ones,  and  their  wives,  in  the  wagons  which 
Pharaoh  had  sent  to  carry  him.  And  they  took 
their  cattle,  and  their  goods,  which  they  had  gotten 
in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  came  into  Egypt,  Jacob, 
and  all  his  seed  with  him. 

And  he  sent  Judah  before  him  unto  Joseph,  to 
direct  his  face  unto  Goshen;  and  they  came  into 
the  land  of  Goshen.  And  Joseph  made  ready  his 
chariot,  and  went  up  to  meet  Israel  his  father,  to 
Goshen,  and  presented  himself  unto  him;  and  he 
fell  on  his  neck,  and  wept  on  his  neck  a  good  while. 
And  Israel  said  unto  Joseph,  Now  let  me  die,  since 
I  have  seen  thy  face,  because  thou  art  yet  alive. 

And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  and  unto  his 
father's  house,  I  will  go  up,  and  shew  Pharaoh, 

83 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  say  unto  fiim,  My  brethren,  and  my  father's 
house,  which  were  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  are 
come  unto  me;  and  the  men  are  shepherds,  for 
their  trade  hath  been  to  feed  cattle ;  and  they  have 
brought  their  flocks,  and  their  herds,  and  all  that 
they  have.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  Pha- 
raoh shall  call  you,  and  shall  say.  What  is  your 
occupation?  that  ye  shall  say,  Thy  servants'  trade 
hath  been  about  cattle  from  our  youth  even  until 
now,  both  we,  and  also  our  fathers :  that  ye  may 
dwell  in  the  land  of  Goshen ;  for  every  shepherd  is 
an  abomination  unto  the  Egyptians. 

Then  Joseph  came  and  told  Pharaoh,  and  said, 
My  father  and  my  brethren,  and  their  flocks,  and 
their  herds,  and  all  that  they  have,  are  come  out  of 
the  land  of  Canaan;  and,  behold,  they  are  in  the 
land  of  Goshen.  And  he  took  some  of  his  brethren, 
even  five  men,  and  presented  them  unto  Pharaoh. 
And  Pharaoh  said  unto  his  brethren.  What  is  your 
occupation?  And  they  said  unto  Pharaoh,  Thy 
servants  are  shepherds,  both  we,  and  also  our 
fathers.  They  said  moreover  unto  Pharaoh,  For 
to  sojourn  in  the  land  are  w^e  come;  for  thy  serv- 
ants have  no  pasture  for  their  flocks ;  for  the 
famine  is  sore  in  the  land  of  Canaan :  now  there- 
fore, we  pray  thee,  let  thy  servants  dwell  in  the 
land  of  Goshen.  And  Pharaoh  spake  unto  Joseph, 
saying,  Thy  father  and  thy  brethren  are  come 
unto  thee:  the  land  of  Egypt  is  before  thee;  in 
the  best  of  the  land  make  thy  father  and  brethren 
to  dwell ;  in  the  land  of  Goshen  let  them  dwell :  and 

84 


BIBLE  STORIES 

if  thou  knowest  any  men  of  activity  among  them, 
then  make  them  rulers  over  my  cattle. 

And  Joseph  brought  in  Jacob  his  father,  and  set 
him  before  Pharaoh :  and  Jacob  blessed  Pharaoh. 
And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Jacob,  How  old  art  thou? 
And  Jacob  said  unto  Pharaoh,  The  days  of  the 
years  of  my  pilgrimage  are  an  hundred  and  thirty 
years :  few  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the  years  of 
my  life  been,  and  have  not  attained  unto  the  days 
of  the  years  of  the  life  of  my  fathers  in  the  days 
of  their  pilgrimage.  And  Jacob  blessed  Pharaoh, 
and  went  out  from  before  Pharaoh. 

And  Joseph  placed  his  father  and  his  brethren, 
and  gave  them  a  possession  in  the  land  of  Egyptj 
in  the  best  of  the  land,  in  the  land  of  Rameses,  as 
Pharaoh  had  commanded.  And  Joseph  nourished 
his  father,  and  his  brethren,  and  all  his  father's 
household,  with  bread,  according  to  their  families. 

MOSES  HID  AMONG  THE  FLAGS 

(Exodus  ii.  1-10) 

And  there  went  a  man  of  the  house  of  Levi,  and 
took  to  wife  a  daughter  of  Levi.  And  the  woman 
bare  a  son :  and  when  she  saw  him  that  he  tvas  a 
goodly  child,  she  hid  him  three  months.  And  when 
she  could  not  longer  hide  him,  she  took  for  him  an 
ark  of  bulrushes,  and  daubed  it  with  slime  and 
with  pitch,  and  put  the  child  therein ;  and  she  laid 
it  in  the  flags'  by  the  river's  brink.  And  his  sister 
stood  afar  off,  to  wit  what  would  be  done  to  him. 

85 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh  came  down  to 
wash  herself  at  the  river ;  and  her  maidens  walked 
along  by  the  river's  side:  and  when  she  saw  the 
ark  among  the  flags,  she  sent  her  maid  to  fetch  it. 
And  when  she  had  opened  it,  she  saw  the  child: 
and,  behold,  the  babe  wept.  And  she  had  com- 
passion on  him,  and  said,  This  is  one  of  the 
Hebrews'  children.  Then  said  his  sister  to  Pha- 
raoh's daughter,  Shall  I  go  and  call  to  thee  a  nurse 
of  the  Hebrew  women,  that  she  may  nurse  the 
child  for  thee?  And  Pharaoh's  daughter  said  to 
her.  Go.  And  the  maid  went  and  called  the  child 's 
mother.  And  Pharaoh's  daughter  said  unto  her, 
Take  this  child  away,  and  nurse  it  for  me,  and  I 
will  give  thee  thy  wages.  And  the  woman  took 
the  child,  and  nursed  it.  And  the  child  grew,  and 
she  brought  him  unto  Pharaoh 's  daughter,  and  he 
became  her  son.  And  she  called  his  name  Moses : 
and  she  said,  Because  I  drew  him  out  of  the  water. 

MOSES  KILLS  AN  EGYPTIAN 

(Exodus  ii.  11-21) 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  when  Moses 
was  grown,  that  he  went  out  unto  his  brethren, 
and  looked  on  their  burdens :  and  he  spied  an 
Egyptian  smiting  an  Hebrew,  one  of  his  brethren. 
And  he  looked  this  way  and  that  way,  and  when  he 
saw  that  there  was  no  man,  he  slew  the  Egyptian, 
and  hid  him  in  the  sand.  And  when  he  went  out 
the  second  day,  behold,  two  men  of  the  Hebrews 

86 


BIBLE  STORIES 

strove  together:  and  he  said  to  him  that  did  the 
wrong,  Wherefore  smitest  thou  thy  fellow"?  And 
he  said,  Who  made  thee  a  prince  and  a  judge  over 
us?  intendest  thou  to  kill  me,  as  thou  killedst  the 


m'if"^'^'  "■^^' 

0!'?k.    .; 

%  ^    \^mr^       

m  ^M 

raniH*^^B 

i 

Fig.  12, — Moses  Waters  the  Sheep  fob  Zipporah. 
Botticelli.    Sistine  Chapel,  Rome. 

Egyptian?    And  Moses  feared,  and  said.  Surely 
this  thing  is  known. 

Now  when  Pharaoh  heard  this  thing,  he  sought 
to  slay  Moses.  But  Moses  fled  from  the  face  of 
Pharaoh,  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Midian:  and 
he  sat  down  by  a  well.  Now  the  priest  of  Midian 
had  seven  daughters :  and  they  came  and  drew 
tvater,  and  filled  .the  troughs  to  water  their 
father 's  flock.    And  the  shepherds  came  and  drove 

87 


BIBLE  STORIES 

them  away :  but  Moses  stood  up  and  helped  them, 
and  watered  their  flock.  And  when  they  came  to 
Reuel  their  father,  he  said,  How  is  it  that  ye  are 
come  so  soon  to  day  ?  And  they  said.  An  Egyptian 
delivered  us  out  of  the  hand  of  the  shepherds,  and 
also  drew  water  enough  for  us,  and  watered  the 
flock.  And  he  said  unto  his  daughters.  And  where 
is  he?  why  is  it  that  ye  have  left  the  man?  call  him, 
that  he  may  eat  bread.  And  Moses  was  content 
to  dwell  with  the  man:  and  he  gave  Moses 
Zipporah  his  daughter. 


GOD  CALLS  MOSES 

(Exodus  iii.  1-22) 

Now  Moses  kept  the  flock  of  Jethro  his  father  in 
law,  the  priest  of  Midian:  and  he  led  the  flock  to 
the  backside  of  the  desert,  and  came  to  the  moun- 
tain of  God,  even  to  Horeb.  And  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  a  flame  of  fire  out  of 
the  midst  of  a  bush:  and  he  looked,  and,  behold, 
the  bush  burned  with  fire,  and  the  bush  was  not 
consumed.  And  Moses  said,  I  will  now  turn  aside, 
and  see  this  great  sight,  why  the  bush  is  not  burnt. 
And  when  the  Lord  saw  that  he  turned  aside  to 
see,  God  called  unto  him  out  of  the  midst  of  the 
bush,  and  said,  Moses,  Moses.  And  he  said,  Here 
am  I-  And  he  said.  Draw  not  nigh  hither :  put  off 
thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet ;  for  the  place  whereon 
thou  standest  is  holy  ground.    Moreover  he  said,  I 

88 


BIBLE  STORIES 

am  the  God  of  thy  father,  the  God  of  Abraham, 
the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob.  And 
Moses  hid  his  face ;  for  he  was  afraid  to  look  upon 
God. 

And  the  Lord  said,  I  have  surely  seen  the  afflic- 
tion of  my  people  which  are  in  Egypt,  and  have 
heard  their  cry  by  reason  of  their  taskmasters; 
for  I  know  their  sorrows ;  and  I  am  come  down  to 
deliver  them  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
to  bring  them  up  out  of  that  land  unto  a  good  land 
and  a  large,  unto  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey.  Now  therefore,  behold,  the  cry  of  the 
children  of  Israel  is  come  unto  me :  and  I  have 
also  seen  the  oppression  wherewith  the  Egyptians 
oppress  them.  Come  now  therefore,  and  I  will 
send  thee  unto  Pharaoh,  that  thou  mayest  bring 
forth  my  people  the  children  of  Israel  out  of 
Egypt. 

And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Who  am  I,  that  I 
should  go  unto  Pharaoh,  and  that  I  should  bring 
forth  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt?  And  he 
said.  Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee ;  and  this  shall 
he  a  token  unto  thee,  that  I  have  sent  thee :  "When 
thou  hast  brought  forth  the  people  out  of  Egypt, 
ye  shall  serve  God  upon  this  mountain. 

And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  luhen  I  come 
unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall  say  unto 
them.  The  God  of  your  fathers  hath  sent  me  unto 
you ;  and  they  shall  say  to  me,  What  is  his  name  ? 
what  shall  I  say  unto  them! 

And  God  said  unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT  I  AM : 

89 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  the  children 
of  Israel,  I  AM  hath  sent  me  unto  you. 

And  God  said  moreover  unto  Moses,  Thus  shalt 
thou  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 

The  Lord  God  of  your  fathers, 

The  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the 
God  of  Jacob, 

Hath  sent  me  unto  you : 

This  is  my  name  for  ever. 

And  this  is  my  memorial  unto  all  generations. 

Go,  and  gather  the  elders  of  Israel  together,  and 
say  unto  them. 

The  Lord  God  of  your  fathers,  the  God  of  Abra- 
ham, of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob,  appeared  unto  me, 
saying, 

I  have  surely  visited  you. 

And  seen  that  which  is  done  to  you  in  Egypt : 

And  I  have  said,  I  will  bring  you  up  out  of  the 
affliction  of  Egypt 

Unto  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey. 

And  they  shall  hearken  to  thy  voice :  and  thou 
shalt  come,  thou  and  the  elders  of  Israel,  unto  the 
king  of  Egypt,  and  ye  shall  say  unto  him.  The 
Lord  God  of  the  Hebrews  hath  met  with  us: 

And  now  let  us  go,  we  beseech  thee,  three  days ' 
journey  into  the  wilderness,  that  we  may  sacrifice 
to  the  Lord  our  God, 

And  I  am  sure  that  the  king  of  Egypt  will  not 
let  you  go,  no,  not  by  a  mighty  hand.  And  I  witl 
stretch  out  my  hand,  and  smite  Egypt  with  all  my 
wonders  which  I  will  do  in  the  midst  thereof :  and 

90 


BIBLE  STORIES 

after  that  he  will  let  you  go.  And  I  will  give  this 
people  favour  in  the  sight  of  the  Egyptians :  and 
it  shall  come  to  pass,  that,  when  ye  go,  ye  shall  not 
go  empty:  but  every  woman  shall  borrow  of  her 
neighbour,  and  of  her  that  sojourneth  in  her  house, 
jewels  of  silver,  and  jewels  of  gold,  and  raiment : 
and  ye  shall  put  the7n  upon  your  sons,  and  upon 
your  daughters ;  and  ye  shall  spoil  the  Egyptians. 

MOSES'  KOD  BECOMES  A  SERPENT 

(Exodus  iv.  1-17) 

And  Moses  answered  and  said,  But,  behold,  they 
will  not  believe  me,  nor  hearken  unto  my  voice: 
for  they  will  say.  The  Lord  hath  not  appeared 
unto  thee.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  What  is 
that  in  thine  hand  ?  And  he  said,  A  rod.  And  he 
said,  Cast  it  on  the  ground.  And  he  cast  it  on 
the  ground,  and  it  became  a  serpent;  and  Moses 
fled  from  before  it.  And  the  Lord  said  unto 
Moses,  Put  forth  thine  hand,  and  take  it  by  the 
tail.  And  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and  caught  it, 
and  it  became  a  rod  in  his  hand:  that  they  may 
believe  that  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers,  the  God 
of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of 
Jacob,  hath  appeared  unto  thee. 

And  the  Lord  said  furthermore  unto  him,  Put 
now  thine  hand  into  thy  bosom.  And  he  put  his 
hand  into  his  bosom:  and  when  he  took  it  out, 
behold,  his  hand  was  leprous  as  snow.  And  he 
said.  Put  thine  hand  into  thy  bosom  again.    And 

91 


BIBLE  STORIES 

he  put  his  hand  into  his  bosom  again ;  and 
plucked  it  out  of  his  bosom,  and,  behold,  it  was 
turned  again  as  his  other  flesh.  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass,  if  they  will  not  believe  thee,  neither 
hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  first  sign,  that  they 
will  believe  the  voice  of  the  latter  sign.  And  it 
shall  come  to  pass,  if  they  will  not  believe  also 
these  two  signs,  neither  hearken  unto  thy  voice, 
that  thou  shalt  take  of  the  water  of  the  river,  and 
pour  it  upon  the  dry  land:  and  the  water  which 
thou  takest  out  of  the  river  shall  become  blood 
upon  the  dry  land. 

And  Moses  said  unto  the  Lokd,  0  my  Lord,  I 
am  not  eloquent,  neither  heretofore,  nor  since 
thou  hast  spoken  unto  thy  servant ;  but  I  am  slow 
of  speech,  and  of  a  slow  tongue.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  him,  Who  hath  made  man's  mouth?  or 
who  maketh  the  dumb,  or  deaf,  or  the  seeing,  or 
the  blind?  have  not  I  the  Lord?  Now  therefore 
go,  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and  teach  thee 
what  thou  shalt  say.  And  he  said,  0  my  Lord, 
send,  I  pray  thee,  by  the  hand  of  him  whom  thou 
wilt  send. 

And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled  against 
Moses,  and  he  said.  Is  not  Aaron  the  Levite  thy 
brother?  I  know  that  he  can  speak  well.  And 
also,  behold,  he  cometh  forth  to  meet  thee:  and 
when  he  seeth  thee,  he  will  be  glad  in  his  heart. 
And  thou  shalt  speak  unto  him,  and  put  words 
in  his  mouth:  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and 
with  his  mouth,  and  will  teach  you  what  ye  shall 

92 


BIBLE  STORIES 

do.  And  he  shall  be  thy  spokesman  unto  the  peo- 
ple :  and  he  shall  be,  even  he  shall  be  to  thee  in- 
stead of  a  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  be  to  him  instead 
of  God.  And  thou  shalt  take  this  rod  in  thine 
hand,  wherewith  thou  shalt  do  signs. 

BRICKS  WITHOUT  STRAW 

(Exodus  v.:   1-19) 

And  afterward  Moses  and  Aaron  went  in,  and 
told  Pharaoh,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
Let  my  people  go,  that  they  may  hold  a  feast  unto 
me  in  the  wilderness.  And  Pharaoh  said.  Who  is 
the  Lord,  that  I  should  obey  his  voice  to  let  Israel 
go  ?  I  know  not  the  Lord,  neither  will  I  let  Israel 
go.  And  they  said.  The  God  of  the  Hebrews  hath 
met  with  us :  let  us  go,  we  pray  thee,  three  days ' 
journey  into  the  desert,  and  sacrifice  unto  the 
Lord  our  God ;  lest  he  fall  upon  us  with  pestilence, 
or  with  the  sword.  And  the  king  of  Egypt  said 
unto  them.  Wherefore  do  ye,  Moses  and  Aaron,  let 
the  people  from  their  works?  get  you  unto  your 
burdens.  And  Pharaoh  said.  Behold,  the  people 
of  the  land  now  are  many,  and  ye  make  them  rest 
from  their  burdens. 

And  Pharaoh  commanded  the  same  day  the  task- 
masters of  the  people,  and  their  officers,  saying. 
Ye  shall  no  more  give  the  people  straw  to  make 
brick,  as  heretofore :  let  them  go  and  gather  straw 
for  themselves.  And  the  tale  of  the  bricks,  which 
they  did  make  heretofore,  ye  shall  lay  upon  them ; 

93"^ 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ye  shall  not  diminish  aught  thereof:  for  they  he 
idle;  therefore  they  cry,  saying,  Let  us  go  and 
sacrifice  to  our  God.  Let  there  more  work  be  laid 
upon  the  men,  that  they  may  labour  therein ;  and 
let  them  not  regard  vain  words. 

And  the  taskmasters  of  the  people  went  out,  and 
their  officers,  and  they  spake  to  the  people,  saying, 
Thus  saith  Pharaoh,  I  will  not  give  you  straw.  Go 
ye,  get  you  straw  where  ye  can  find  it:  yet  not 
aught  of  your  work  shall  be  diminished.  So  the 
people  were  scattered  abroad  throughout  all  the 
land  of  Egypt  to  gather  stubble  instead  of  straw. 
And  the  taskmasters  hasted  them,  saying,  Fulfil 
your  works,  your  daily  tasks,  as  when  there  was 
straw.  And  the  officers  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
which  Pharaoh's  taskmasters  had  set  over  them, 
were  beaten,  aud  demanded,  Wherefore  have  ye 
not  fulfilled  your  task  in  making  brick  both  yes- 
terday and  to  day,  as  heretofore"? 

Then  the  officers  of  the  children  of  Israel  came 
and  cried  unto  Pharaoh,  saying.  Wherefore  deal- 
est thou  thus  with  thy  servants?  There  is  no 
straw  given  unto  thy  servants,  and  they  say  to 
us,  Make  brick:  and,  behold,  thy  servants  are 
beaten ;  but  the  fault  is  in  thine  own  people.  But 
he  said,  Ye  are  idle,  ije  are  idle :  therefore  ye  say, 
Let  us  go  and  do  sacrifice  to  the  Lord.  Go  there- 
fore now,  and  work;  for  there  shall  no  straw  be 
given  you,  yet  shall  ye  deliver  the  tale  of  bricks. 


94 


BIBLE  STORIES 

AARON'S   ROD    SWALLOWS    THE    OTHER 

RODS 

(Exodus  vii.  1-13) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  See,  I  have  made 
thee  a  god  to  Pharaoh;  and  Aaron  thy  brother 
shall  be  thy  prophet.  Thou  shalt  speak  all  that  I 
command  thee :  and  Aaron  thy  brother  shall  speak 
unto  Pharaoh,  that  he  send  the  children  of  Israel 
out  of  his  land.  And  I  will  harden  Pharaoh's 
heart,  and  multiply  my  signs  and  my  wonders  in 
the  land  of  Egypt.  But  Pharaoh  shall  not  hearken 
unto  you,  that  I  may  lay  my  hand  upon  Egypt, 
and  bring  forth  mine  armies,  and  my  people  the 
children  of  Israel,  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  by 
great  judgments.  And  the  Egyptians  shall  know 
that  I  am  the  Lord,  when  I  stretch  forth  mine 
hand  upon  Egypt,  and  bring  out  the  children  of 
Israel  from  among  them.  And  Moses  and  Aaron 
did  as  the  Lord  commanded  them,  so  did  they. 
And  Moses  was  fourscore  years  old,  and  Aaron 
fourscore  and  three  years  old,  when  they  spake 
unto  Pharaoh. 

And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  unto  Aaron, 
saying,  When  Pharaoh  shall  speak  unto  you,  say- 
ing. Shew  a  miracle  for  you :  then  thou  shalt  say 
unto  Aaron,  Take  thy  rod,  and  cast  it  before 
Pharaoh,  and  it  shall  become  a  serpent.  And 
Moses  and  Aaron  went  in  unto  Pharaoh,  and  they 
did  so  as  the  Lord  had  commanded:  and  Aaron 

95 


BIBLE  STORIES 

cast  down  his  rod  before  Pharaoh,  and  before  his 
servants,  and  it  became  a  serpent.  Then  Pharaoh 
also  called  the  wise  men  and  the  sorcerers :  now 
the  magicians  of  Egypt,  they  also  did  in  like  man- 
ner with  their  enchantments.  For  they  cast  down 
every  man  his  rod,  and  they  became  serpents :  but 
Aaron's  rod  swallowed  up  their  rods.  And  he 
hardened  Pharaoh's  heart,  that  he  hearkened  not 
unto  them ;  as  the  Lord  had  said. 

FIRST    PLAGUE  — WATER     TURNED     TO 
BLOOD 

(Exodus  vii.  14-25) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Pharaoh's  heart 
^5  hardened,  he  refuseth  to  let  the  people  go.  Get 
thee  unto  Pharaoh  in  the  morning;  lo,  he  goeth 
out  unto  the  water;  and  thou  shalt  stand  by  the 
river 's  brink  against  he  come ;  and  the  rod  which 
was  turned  to  a  serpent  shalt  thou  take  in  thine 
hand.  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  him.  The  Lord  God 
of  the  Hebrews  hath  sent  me  unto  thee,  saying. 
Let  my  people  go,  that  they  may  serve  me  in  the 
wilderness:  and,  behold,  hitherto  thou  wouldest 
not  hear.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  In  this  thou  shalt 
know  that  I  am  the  Lord  :  behold,  I  will  smite  with 
the  rod  that  is  in  mine  hand  upon  the  waters  which 
are  in  the  river,  and  they  shall  be  turned  to  blood. 
And  the  fish  that  is  in  the  river  shall  die,  and  the 
river  shall  stink ;  and  the  Egyptians  shall  lothe  to 
drink  of  the  water  of  the  river. 

96 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  Say  unto 
Aaron,  Take  thy  rod,  and  stretch  out  thine  hand 
upon  the  waters  of  Egypt,  upon  their  streams, 
upon  their  rivers,  and  upon  their  ponds,  and  upon 
all  their  pools  of  water,  that  they  may  become 
blood ;  and  that  there  may  be  blood  throughout  all 
the  land  of  Egypt,  both  in  vessels  of  wood,  and  in 
vessels  of  stone.  And  Moses  and  Aaron  did  so, 
as  the  Lord  commanded ;  and  he  lifted  up  the  rod, 
and  smote  the  waters  that  tvere  in  the  river,  in  the 
sight  of  Pharaoh,  and  in  the  sight  of  his  servants ; 
and  all  the  waters  that  ivere  in  the  river  were 
turned  to  blood.  And  the  fish  that  was  in  the  river 
died ;  and  the  river  stank,  and  the  Egyptians  could 
not  drink  of  the  water  of  the  river ;  and  there  was 
blood  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  the 
magicians  of  Egypt  did  so  with  their  enchant- 
ments :  and  Pharaoh 's  heart  was  hardened,  neither 
did  he  hearken  unto  them;  as  the  Lord  had  said. 
And  Pharaoh  turned  and  went  into  his  house, 
neither  did  he  set  his  heart  to  this  also.  And  all 
the  Egyptians  digged  round  about  the  river  for 
water  to  drink;  for  they  could  not  drink  of  the 
water  of  the  river.  And  seven  days  were  fulfilled, 
after  that  the  Lord  had  smitten  the  river. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

SECOND  PLAGUE— FROGS 

(Exodus  viii.  1-15) 

And  the  Lokd  spake  unto  Moses,  Go  unto  Pha- 
raoh, and  say  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Let 
my  people  go,  that  they  may  serve  me.  And  if  thou 
refuse  to  let  them  go,  behold,  I  will  smite  all  thy 
borders  with  frogs :  and  the  river  shall  bring  forth 
frogs  abundantly,  which  shall  go  up  and  come 
into  thine  house,  and  into  thy  bedchamber,  and 
upon  thy  bed,  and  into  the  house  of  thy  servants, 
and  upon  thy  people,  and  into  thine  ovens,  and 
into  thy  kneadingtroughs :  and  the  frogs  shall 
come  both  on  thee,  and  upon  thy  people,  and  upon 
all  thy  servants.  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses, 
Say  unto  Aaron,  Stretch  forth  thine  hand  with 
thy  rod  over  the  streams,  over  the  rivers,  and  over 
the  ponds,  and  cause  frogs  to  come  up  upon  the 
land  of  Egypt.  And  Aaron  stretched  out  his  hand 
over  the  waters  of  Egypt ;  and  the  frogs  came  up, 
and  covered  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  the  magi- 
cians did  so  with  their  enchantments,  and  brought 
up  frogs  upon  the  land  of  Egypt. 

Then  Pharaoh  called  for  Moses  and  Aaron,  and 
said,  Intreat  the  Lord,  that  he  may  take  away  the 
frogs  from  me,  and  from  my  people;  and  I  will 
let  the  people  go,  that  they  may  do  sacrifice  unto 
the  Lord.  And  Moses  said  unto  Pharaoh,  Glory 
over  me:  when  shall  I  intreat  for  thee,  and  for 
thy  servants,  and  for  thy  people,  to  destroy  the 

98 


BIBLE  STORIES 

frogs  from  thee  and  thy  houses,  that  thev  may 
remain  in  the  river  only?  And  he  said,  To  mor- 
row. And  he  said.  Be  it  according  to  thy  word; 
that  thou  mayest  know  that  there  is  none  like  unto 
the  Lord  our  God.  And  the  frogs  shall  depart 
from  thee,  and  from  thy  houses,  and  from  thy 
servants,  and  from  thy  people ;  they  shall  remain 
in  the  river  only. 

And  Moses  and  Aaron  went  out  from  Pharaoh : 
and  Moses  cried  unto  the  Lord  because  of  the 
frogs  which  he  had  brought  against  Pharaoh. 
And  the  Lord  did  according  to  the  word  of  Moses ; 
and  the  frogs  died  out  of  the  houses,  out  of  the 
villages,  and  out  of  the  fields.  And  they  gathered 
them  together  upon  heaps;  and  the  land  stank. 
But  when  Pharaoh  saw  that  there  was  respite,  he 
hardened  his  heart,  and  hearkened  not  unto  them; 
as  the  Lord  had  said. 

THIRD  PLAGUE— LICE 

(Exodus  viii.  16-19) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Say  unto  Aaron, 
Stretch  out  thy  rod,  and  smite  the  dust  of  the 
land,  that  it  may  become  lice  throughout  all  the 
land  of  Egypt.  And  they  did  so;  for  Aaron 
stretched  out  his  hand  with  his  rod,  and  smote  the 
dust  of  the  earth,  and  it  became  lice  in  man,  and 
in  beast;  all  the  dust  of  the  land  became  lice 
throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 

And  the  magicians  did  so  with  their  enchant- 

99 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ments  to  bring  forth  lice,  but  they  could  not:  so 
there  were  lice  upon  man,  and  upon  beast.  Then 
the  magicians  said  unto  Pharaoh,  This  is  the 
finger  of  God :  and  Pharaoh's  heart  was  hardened, 
and  he  hearkened  not  unto  them;  as  the  Lord 
had  said. 

FOURTH  PLAGUE— FLIES 

( Exodus  viii.  20-32) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Rise  up  early  in 
the  morning,  and  stand  before  Pharaoh;  lo,  he 
Cometh  forth  to  the  water;  and  say  unto  him, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Let  my  people  go,  that  they 
may  serve  me.  Else,  if  thou  wilt  not  let  my  peo- 
ple go,  behold,  I  will  send  swarms  of  flies  upon 
thee,  and  upon  thy  servants,  and  upon  thy  people, 
and  into  thy  houses :  and  the  houses  of  the  Egyp- 
tians shall  be  full  of  swarms  of  flies,  and  also 
the  ground  whereon  they  are.  And  I  will  sever 
in  that  day  the  land  of  Goshen,  in  which  my  peo- 
ple dwell,  that  no  swarms  of  flies  shall  be  there; 
to  the  end  thou  may  est  know  that  I  am  the  Lord 
in  the  midst  of  the  earth.  And  I  will  put  a  divi- 
sion between  my  people  and  thy  people :  to  mor- 
row shall  this  sign  be.  And  the  Lord  did  so ;  and 
there  came  a  grievous  swarm  of  flies  into  the  house 
of  Pharaoh,  and  into  his  servants'  houses,  and  into 
all  the  land  of  Egypt :  the  land  was  corrupted  by 
reason  of  the  swarm  of  flies. 

And  Pharaoh  called  for  Moses  and  for  Aaron, 
100 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  said,  Go  ye,  sacrifice  to  your  God  in  the  land. 
And  Moses  said.  It  is  not  meet  so  to  do ;  for  we 
shall  sacrifice  the  abomination  of  the  Egyptians 
to  the  Lord  our  God:  lo,  shall  we  sacrifice  the 
abomination  of  the  Egyptians  before  their  eyes, 
and  will  they  not  stone  us  ?  We  will  go  three  days ' 
journey  into  the  wilderness,  and  sacrifice  to  the 
Lord  our  God,  as  he  shall  command  us.  And  Pha- 
raoh said,  I  will  let  you  go,  that  ye  may  sacrifice  to 
the  Lord  your  God  in  the  wilderness ;  only  ye  shall 
not  go  very  far  away :  intreat  for  me.  And  Moses 
said.  Behold,  I  go  out  from  thee,  and  I  will  intreat 
the  Lord  that  the  swarms  of  flies  may  depart  from 
Pharaoh,  from  his  servants,  and  from  his  people, 
to  morrow :  but  let  not  Pharaoh  deal  deceitfully 
any  more  in  not  letting  the  people  go  to  sacrifice 
to  the  Lord.  And  Moses  went  out  from  Pharaoh, 
and  intreated  the  Lord.  And  the  Lord  did  accord- 
ing to  the  word  of  Moses;  and  he  removed  the 
swarms  of  flies  from  Pharaoh,  from  his  servants, 
and  from  his  people ;  there  remained  not  one.  And 
Pharaoh  hardened  his  heart  at  this  time  also, 
neither  would  he  let  the  people  go. 

FIFTH  PLAGUE— MURRAIN  OF  BEASTS 

( Exodus  ix.  1-7 ) 

Then  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  in  unto 
Pharaoh,  and  tell  him.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God 
of  the  Hebrews,  Let  my  people  go,  that  they  may 
serve  me.    For  if  thou  refuse  to  let  them  go,  and 

101 


BIBLE  STORIES 

wilt  hold  them  still,  behold,  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
is  upon  thy  cattle  which  is  in  the  field,  upon  the 
horses,  upon  the  asses,  upon  the  camels,  upon 
the  oxen,  and  upon  the  sheep:  there  shall  be  a 
very  grievous  murrain.  And  the  Lord  shall  sever 
between  the  cattle  of  Israel  and  the  cattle  of 
Egypt:  and  there  shall  nothing  die  of  all  that  is 
the  children's  of  Israel.  And  the  Lord  appointed 
a  set  time,  saying.  To  morrow  the  Lord  shall  do 
this  thing  in  the  land.  And  the  Lord  did  that 
thing  on  the  morrow,  and  all  the  cattle  of  Egypt 
died:  but  of  the  cattle  of  the  children  of  Israel 
died  not  one.  And  Pharaoh  sent,  and,  behold, 
there  was  not  one  of  the  cattle  of  the  Israelites 
dead.  And  the  heart  of  Pharaoh  was  hardened, 
and  he  did  not  let  the  people  go. 

SIXTH  PLAGUE— BOILS 

( Exodus  ix.  8-12) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses  and  unto  Aaron, 
Take  to  you  handfuls  of  ashes  of  the  furnace, 
and  let  Moses  sprinkle  it  toward  the  heaven  in 
the  sight  of  Pharaoh.  And  it  shall  become  small 
dust  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  shall  be  a  boil 
breaking  forth  ivith  blains  upon  man,  and  upon 
beast,  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  they 
took  ashes  of  the  furnace,  and  stood  before  Pha- 
raoh; and  Moses  sprinkled  it  up  toward  heaven; 
and  it  became  a  boil  breaking  forth  with  blains 
upon  man,  and  upon  beast.     And  the  magicians 

102 


BIBLE  STORIES 

could  not  stand  before  Moses  because  of  the  boils ; 
for  the  boil  was  upon  the  magicians,  and  upon  all 
the  Egyptians.  And  the  Lord  hardened  the  heart 
of  Pharaoh,  and  he  hearkened  not  unto  them;  as 
the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  Moses. 

SEVENTH  PLAGUE— HAIL 

( Exodus  ix.  13-35) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Rise  up  early 
in  the  morning,  and  stand  before  Pharaoh,  and 
say  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  the  He- 
brews, Let  my  people  go,  that  they  may  serve  me. 
For  I  will  at  this  time  send  all  my  plagues  upon 
thine  heart,  and  upon  thy  servants,  and  upon  thy 
people ;  that  thou  mayest  know  that  there  is  none 
like  me  in  all  the  earth.  For  now  I  will  stretch 
out  my  hand,  that  I  may  smite  thee  and  thy  people 
with  pestilence;  and  thou  shalt  be  cut  off  from 
the  earth.  And  in  very  deed  for  this  cause  have 
I  raised  thee  up,  for  to  shew  in  thee  my  power; 
and  that  my  name  may  be  declared  throughout  all 
the  earth.  As  yet  exaltest  thou  thyself  against 
my  people,  that  thou  wilt  not  let  them  go?  Be- 
hold, to  morrow  about  this  time  I  will  cause  it 
to  rain  a  very  grievous  hail,  such  as  hath  not  been 
in  Egypt  since  the  foundation  thereof  even  until 
now.  Send  therefore  now,  and  gather  thy  cattle, 
and  all  that  thou  hast  in  the  field ;  for  upon  every 
man  and  beast  which  shall  be  found  in  the  field, 
and  shall  not  be  brought  home,  the  hail  shall  come 

103 


BIBLE  STORIES 

down  upon  them,  and  they  shall  die.  He  that 
feared  the  word  of  the  Lord  among  the  servants 
of  Pharaoh  made  his  servants  and  his  cattle  flee 
into  the  houses :  and  he  that  regarded  not  the  word 
of  the  Lord  left  his  servants  and  his  cattle  in  the 
field. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Stretch  forth 
thine  hand  toward  heaven,  that  there  may  be 
hail  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  upon  man,  and 
upon  beast,  and  upon  every  herb  of  the  field, 
throughout  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  Moses 
stretched  forth  his  rod  toward  heaven:  and  the 
Lord  sent  thunder  and  hail,  and  the  fire  ran  along 
upon  the  ground;  and  the  Lord  rained  hail  upon 
the  land  of  Egypt.  So  there  was  hail,  and  fire 
mingled  with  the  hail,  very  grievous,  such  as  there 
was  none  like  it  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt  since  it 
became  a  nation.  And  the  hail  smote  throughout 
all  the  land  of  Egypt  all  that  was  in  the  field, 
both  man  and  beast ;  and  the  hail  smote  every  herb 
of  the  field,  and  brake  every  tree  of  the  field. 
Only  in  the  land  of  Goshen,  where  the  children 
of  Israel  were,  was  there  no  hail. 

And  Pharaoh  sent,  and  called  for  Moses  and 
Aaron,  and  said  unto  them,  I  have  sinned  this 
time :  the  Lord  is  righteous,  and  I  and  my  people 
are  wicked.  Intreat  the  Lord  (for  it  is  enough) 
that  there  be  no  more  mighty  thunderings  and 
hail;  and  I  will  let  you  go,  and  ye  shall  stay  no 
longer.  And  Moses  said  unto  him,  As  soon  as  I 
am  gone  out  of  the  city,  I  will  spread  abroad  my 

104 


BIBLE  STORIES 

hands  unto  the  Lord;  and  the  thunder  shall  cease, 
neither  shall  there  be  any  more  hail;  that  thou 
mayest  know  how  that  the  earth  is  the  Lord's. 
But  as  for  thee  and  thy  servants,  I  know  that  ye 
will  not  yet  fear  the  Lord  God.  And  the  flax  and 
the  barley  was  smitten :  for  the  barley  was  in  the 
ear,  and  the  flax  ivas  boiled.  But  the  wheat  and 
the  rye  were  not  smitten :  for  they  were  not  grown 
up. 

And  Moses  went  out  of  the  city  from  Pha- 
raoh, and  spread  abroad  his  hands  unto  the  Lord  : 
and  the  thunders  and  hail  ceased,  and  the  rain 
was  not  poured  upon  the  earth.  And  when  Pha- 
raoh saw  that  the  rain  and  the  hail  and  the  thun- 
ders were  ceased,  he  sinned  yet  more,  and  hard- 
ened his  heart,  he  and  his  servants.  And  the  heart 
of  Pharaoh  was  hardened,  neither  would  he  let 
the  children  of  Israel  go ;  as  the  Lord  had  spoken 
by  Moses. 

EIGHTH  PLAGUE— LOCUSTS 

(Exodus  X.  1-20) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  in  unto  Pha- 
raoh :  for  I  have  hardened  his  heart,  and  the  heart 
of  his  servants,  that  I  might  shew  these  my  signs 
before  him :  and  that  thou  mayest  tell  in  the  ears 
of  thy  son,  and  of  thy  son's  son,  what  things  I 
have  wrought  in  Egypt,  and  my  signs  which  I 
have  done  among  them;  that  ye  may  know  how 
that  I  am  the  Lord. 

105 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  Moses  and  Aaron  came  in  unto  Pharaoh, 
and  said  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the  Loed  God  of 
the  Hebrews,  How  long  wilt  thou  refuse  to  humble 
thyself  before  me?  let  my  people  go,  that  they 
may  serve  me.  Else,  if  thou  refuse  to  let  my 
people  go,  behold,  to  morrow  will  I  bring  the 
locusts  into  thy  coast:  and  they  shall  cover  the 
face  of  the  earth,  that  one  cannot  be  able  to  see 
the  earth:  and  they  shall  eat  the  residue  of  that 
which  is  escaped,  which  remaineth  unto  you  from 
the  hail,  and  shall  eat  every  tree  which  groweth 
for  you  out  of  the  field:  and  they  shall  fill  thy 
houses,  and  the  houses  of  all  thy  servants,  and  the 
houses  of  all  the  Egyptians;  which  neither  thy 
fathers,  nor  thy  fathers'  fathers  have  seen,  since 
the  day  that  they  were  upon  the  earth  unto  this 
day.  And  he  turned  himself,  and  went  out  from 
Pharaoh. 

And  Pharaoh's  servants  said  unto  him,  How 
long  shall  this  man  be  a  snare  unto  us  f  let  the 
men  go,  that  they  may  serve  the  Lord  their  God : 
knowest  thou  not  yet  that  Egypt  is  destroyed? 
And  Moses  and  Aaron  were  brought  again  unto 
Pharaoh:  and  he  said  unto  them.  Go,  serve  the 
Lord  your  God:  hut  who  are  they  that  shall  go? 
And  Moses  said,  We  will  go  with  our  young  and 
with  our  old,  with  our  sons  and  with  our  daugh- 
ters, with  our  flocks  and  with  our  herds  will  we 
go;  for  we  7mist  hold  a  feast  unto  the  Lord. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  let  the  Lord  be  so  with  you, 
as  I  will  let  you  go,  and  your  little  ones :  look  to  it; 

106 


BIBLE  STORIES 

for  evil  is  before  you.  Not  so :  go  now  ye  that  are 
men,  and  serve  the  Loed;  for  that  ye  did  desire. 
And  they  were  driven  out  from  Pharaoh's  pres- 
ence. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Stretch  out  thine 
hand  over  the  land  of  Egypt  for  the  locusts,  that 
they  may  come  up  upon  the  land  of  Egypt,  and 
eat  every  herb  of  the  land,  even  all  that  the  hail 
hath  left.  And  Moses  stretched  forth  his  rod 
over  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  Lord  brought 
an  east  wind  upon  the  land  all  that  day,  and  all 
that  night ;  and  when  it  was  morning,  the  east  wind 
brought  the  locusts.  And  the  locusts  went  up 
over  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  rested  in  all  the 
coasts  of  Egypt :  very  grievous  ivere  they;  before 
them  there  were  no  such  locusts  as  they,  neither 
after  them  shall  be  such.  For  they  covered  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth,  so  that  the  land  was  dark- 
ened ;  and  they  did  eat  every  herb  of  the  land,  and 
all  the  fruit  of  the  trees  which  the  hail  had  left: 
and  there  remained  not  any  green  thing  in  the 
trees,  or  in  the  herbs  of  the  field,  through  all  the 
land  of  Egypt. 

Then  Pharaoh  called  for  Moses  and  Aaron  in 
haste;  and  he  said,  I  have  sinned  against  the 
Lord  your  God,  and  against  you.  Now  therefore 
forgive,  I  pray  thee,  my  sin  only  this  once,  and 
intreat  the  Lord  your  God,  that  he  may  take 
away  from  me  this  death  only.  And  he  went  out 
from  Pharaoh,  and  intreated  the  Lord.  And  the 
Lord  turned  a  mighty  strong  west  wind,  which  took 

107 


BIBLE  STORIES 

away  the  locusts,  and  cast  them  into  the  Red 
Sea;  there  remained  not  one  locust  in  all  the 
coasts  of  Egypt.  But  the  Lord  hardened  Pha- 
raoh's heart,  so  that  he  would  not  let  the  children 
of  Israel  go. 

NINTH  PLAGUE— DARKNESS 

(  Exodus  X. 21-29) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Stretch  out  thine 
hand  toward  heaven,  that  there  may  be  darkness 
over  the  land  of  Egypt,  even  darkness  which  may 
be  felt.  And  Moses  stretched  forth  his  hand  to- 
ward heaven ;  and  there  was  a  thick  darkness  in  all 
the  land  of  Egypt  three  days :  they  saw  not  one  an- 
other, neither  rose  any  from  his  place  for  three 
days:  but  all  the  children  of  Israel  had  light  in 
their  dwellings.  And  Pharaoh  called  unto  Moses, 
and  said.  Go  ye,  serve  the  Lord;  only  let  your 
flocks  and  your  herds  be  stayed:  let  your  little 
ones  also  go  with  you.  And  Moses  said,  Thou 
must  give  us  also  sacrifices  and  burnt  offerings, 
that  we  may  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord  our  God.  Our 
cattle  also  shall  go  with  us ;  there  shall  not  a  hoof 
be  left  behind;  for  thereof  must  we  take  to  serve 
the  Lord  our  God;  and  we  know  not  with  what 
we  must  serve  the  Lord,  until  we  come  thither. 

But  the  Lord  hardened  Pharaoh's  heart,  and  he 
would  not  let  them  go.  And  Pharaoh  said  unto 
him.  Get  thee  from  me,  take  heed  to  thyself,  see 
my  face  no  more;  for  in  that  day  thou  seest  my 

108 


BIBLE  STORIES 

face  tliou  slialt  die.    And  Moses  said,  Thou  hast 
spoken  well,  I  will  see  thy  face  again  no  more. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  PASSOVER 

(Exodus  xi.  1-8 ;  xii.  21-28 ) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Yet  will  I  bring 
one  plague  more  upon  Pharaoh,  and  upon  Egypt ; 
afterwards  he  will  let  you  go  hence :  when  he  shall 
let  you  go,  he  shall  surely  thrust  you  out  hence 
altogether.  Speak  now  in  the  ears  of  the  people, 
and  let  every  man  borrow  of  his  neighbour,  and 
every  woman  of  her  neighbour,  jewels  of  silver, 
and  jewels  of  gold.  And  the  Lord  gave  the  people 
favour  in  the  sight  of  the  Egyptians.  Moreover, 
the  man  Moses  was  very  great  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  in  the  sight  of  Pharaoh's  servants,  and  in 
the  sight  of  the  people. 

And  Moses  said,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  About 
midnight  will  I  go  out  into  the  midst  of  Egypt: 
and  all  the  firstborn  in  the  land  of  Egypt  shall  die, 
from  the  firstborn  of  Pharaoh  that  sitteth  upon 
his  throne,  even  unto  the  firstborn  of  the  maid- 
servant that  is  behind  the  mill;  and  all  the  first- 
born of  beasts.  And  there  shall  be  a  great  cry 
throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  such  as  there 
was  none  like  it,  nor  shall  be  like  it  any  more. 
But  against  any  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  not 
a  dog  move  his  tongue,  against  man  or  beast :  that 
ye  may  know  how  that  the  Lord  doth  put  a  differ- 
ence between  the  Eg^^ptians  and  Israel.    And  all 

109 


BIBLE  STORIES 

these  thy  servants  shall  come  down  unto  me,  and 
bow  down  themselves  unto  me,  saying,  Get  thee 
out,  and  all  the  people  that  follow  thee :  and  after 
that  I  will  go  out.  And  he  went  out  from  Pharaoh 
in  a  great  anger. 

Then  Moses  called  for  all  the  elders  of  Israel, 
and  said  unto  them,  Draw  out  and  take  you  a 
lamb  according  to  your  families,  and  kill  the  pass- 
over.  And  ye  shall  take  a  bunch  of  hyssop,  and 
dip  it  in  the  blood  that  is  in  the  basin,  and  strike 
the  lintel  and  the  two  side  posts  with  the  blood 
that  is  in  the  basin ;  and  none  of  you  shall  go  out 
at  the  door  of  his  house  until  the  morning.  For 
the  Lord  will  pass  through  to  smite  the  Egyptians ; 
and  when  he  seeth  the  blood  upon  the  lintel,  and 
on  the  two  side  posts,  the  Lord  will  pass  over  the 
door,  and  will  not  suffer  the  destroyer  to  come  in 
unto  your  houses  to  smite  you.  And  ye  shall  ob- 
serve this  thing  for  an  ordinance  to  thee  and  to 
thy  sons  for  ever.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when 
ye  be  come  to  the  land  which  the  Lord  will  give 
you,  according  as  he  hath  promised,  that  ye  shall 
keep  this  service.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
when  your  children  shall  say  unto  you.  What 
mean  ye  by  this  service?  that  ye  shall  say.  It  is 
the  sacrifice  of  the  Lord's  passover,  who  passed 
over  the  houses  of  the  children  of  Israel  in  Egypt, 
when  he  smote  the  Egyptians,  and  delivered  our 
houses. 

And  the  people  bowed  the  head  and  worshipped. 
And  the  children  of  Israel  went  away,  and  did 

110 


BIBLE  STORIES 

as  the  Lord  had  commanded  Moses  and  Aaron,  so 
did  thev. 


TENTH  PLAGUE— THE  FIRSTBORN 
SLAIN 

(Exodus  xii.  29-36) 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  at  midnight  the  Lord 
smote  all  the  firstborn  in  the  land  of  Eg^-pt,  from 
the  firstborn  of  Pharaoh  that  sat  on  his  throne 
unto  the  firstborn  of  the  captive  that  ivas  in  the 
dungeon;  and  all  the  firstborn  of  cattle.  And 
Pharaoh  rose  np  in  the  night,  he,  and  all  his 
servants,  and  all  the  Egyptians ;  and  there  was  a 
great  cry  in  Egypt:  for  there  was  not  a  house 
where  there  was  not  one  dead. 

And  he  called  for  Moses  and  Aaron  by  night, 
and  said.  Rise  up,  and  get  you  forth  from  among 
my  people,  both  ye  and  the  children  of  Israel; 
and  go,  serve  the  Lord,  as  ye  have  said.  Also 
take  your  flocks  and  your  herds,  as  ye  have  said, 
and  be  gone ;  and  bless  me  also.  And  the  Egyp- 
tians were  urgent  upon  the  people,  that  they  might 
send  them  out  of  the  land  in  haste ;  for  they  said, 
We  be  all  dead  men.  And  the  people  took  their 
dough  before  it  was  leavened,  their  kneading- 
troughs  being  bound  up  in  their  clothes  upon  their 
shoulders.  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  accord- 
ing to  the  word  of  Moses ;  and  they  borrowed  of 
the  Egyptians  jewels  of  silver,  and  jewels  of  gold, 
and  raiment :  and  the  Lord  gave  the  people  favour 

111 


BIBLE  STORIES 

in  the  sight  of  the  Egyptians,  so  that  they  lent 
unto  them  such  things  as  they  required.  And 
they  spoiled  the  Egyptians. 

THE  EGYPTIANS  ARE  DROWNED 

(Exodus  xiv.  5-31 ) 

And  it  was  told  the  king  of  Egypt  that  the  peo- 
ple fled:  and  the  heart  of  Pharaoh  and  of  his 
servants  was  turned  against  the  jjeople,  and  they 
said,  Why  have  we  done  this,  that  we  have  let 
Israel  go  from  serving  us?  And  he  made  ready 
his  chariot,  and  took  his  people  with  him:  And 
he  took  six  hundred  chosen  chariots,  and  all  the 
chariots  of  Egypt,  and  captains  over  every  one 
of  them.  And  the  Lord  hardened  the  heart  of  Pha- 
raoh king  of  Egypt,  and  he  pursued  after  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel:  and  the  children  of  Israel  went 
out  with  an  high  hand.  But  the  Egyptians  pursued 
after  them,  all  the  horses  and  chariots  of  Pharaoh, 
and  his  horsemen,  and  his  army,  and  overtook 
them  encamping  by  the  sea,  beside  Pi-hahiroth, 
before  Baal-zephon. 

And  when  Pharaoh  drew  nigh,  the  children  of 
Israel  lifted  up  their  eyes,  and,  behold,  the  Egyp- 
tians marched  after  them;  and  they  were  sore 
afraid :  and  the  children  of  Israel  cried  out  unto 
the  Lord.  And  they  said  unto  Moses,  Because 
there  ivere  no  graves  in  Egypt,  hast  thou  taken  us 
away  to  die  in  the  wilderness  I  wherefore  hast 
thou  dealt  thus  with  us,  to  carry  us  forth  out  of 

112 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Egypt  ?  Is  not  this  the  word  that  we  did  tell  thee 
in  Egypt,  saying,  Let  us  alone,  that  we  may  serve 
the  Egyptians?  For  it  had  been  better  for  us  to 
serve  the  Egyptians,  than  that  we  should  die  in 
the  wilderness.  And  Moses  said  unto  the  people, 
Fear  ye  not,  stand  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of 
the  Lord,  which  he  will  shew  to  you  to  day :  for  the 
Egyptians  whom  ye  have  seen  to  day,  ye  shall  see 
them  again  no  more  for  ever.  The  Lord  shall 
fight  for  you,  and  ye  shall  hold  your  peace. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Wherefore  criest 
thou  unto  me?  speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 
that  they  go  forward :  but  lift  thou  up  thy  rod,  and 
stretch  out  thine  hand  over  the  sea,  and  divide  it : 
and  the  children  of  Israel  shall  go  on  dry  ground 
through  the  midst  of  the  sea.  And,  I,  behold,  I 
will  harden  the  hearts  of  the  Egyptians,  and  they 
shall  follow  them :  and  I  will  get  me  honour  upon 
Pharaoh,  and  upon  all  his  host,  upon  his  chariots, 
and  upon  his  horsemen.  And  the  Egyptians  shall 
know  that  I  am  the  Lord,  when  I  have  gotten  me 
honour  upon  Pharaoh,  upon  his  chariots,  and  upon 
his  horsemen. 

And  the  angel  of  God,  which  went  before  the 
camp  of  Israel,  removed  and  went  behind  them; 
and  the  pillar  of  the  cloud  went  from  before  their 
face,  and  stood  behind  them :  and  it  came  between 
the  camp  of  the  Egyptians  and  the  camp  of  Israel ; 
and  it  was  a  cloud  and  darkness  to  them,  but  it 
gave  light  by  night  to  these:  so  that  the  one  came 
not  near  the  other  all  the  night.     And  Moses 

115 


BIBLE  STORIES 

stretched  out  his  hand  over  the  sea ;  and  the  Lord 
caused  the  sea  to  go  back  by  a  strong  east  wind 
all  that  night,  and  made  the  sea  dry  land,  and  the 
waters  were  divided.  And  the  children  of  Israel 
went  into  the  midst  of  the  sea  upon  the  dry 
ground:  and  the  waters  were  a  wall  unto  them  on 
their  right  hand,  and  on  their  left. 

And  the  Egyptians  pursued,  and  went  in  after 
them  to  the  midst  of  the  sea,  even  all  Pharaoh's 
horses,  his  chariots,  and  his  horsemen.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  that  in  the  morning  watch  the  Lord 
looked  unto  the  host  of  the  Egyptians  through 
the  pillar  of  fire  and  of  the  cloud,  and  troubled 
the  host  of  the  Egyptians,  and  took  off  their  char- 
iot wheels,  that  they  drave  them  heavily:  so  that 
the  Egyptians  said,  Let  us  flee  from  the  face  of 
Israel;  for  the  Lord  fighteth  for  them  against 
the  Egyptians. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Stretch  out  thine 
hand  over  the  sea,  that  the  waters  may  come  again 
upon  the  Egyptians,  upon  their  chariots,  and  upon 
their  horsemen.  And  Moses  stretched  forth  his 
hand  over  the  sea,  and  the  sea  returned  to  his 
strength  when  the  morning  appeared;  and  the 
Egyptians  fled  against  it ;  and  the  Lord  overthrew 
the  Egyptians  in  the  midst  of  the  sea.  And  the 
waters  returned,  and  covered  the  chariots,  and 
the  horsemen,  and  all  the  host  of  Pharaoh  that 
came  into  the  sea  after  them;  there  remained 
not  so  much  as  one  of  them.  But  the  children  of 
Israel  walked  upon  dry  land  in  the  midst  of  the 

116 


BIBLE  STORIES 

sea ;  and  the  waters  were  a  wall  unto  them  on  their 
right  hand,  and  on  their  left. 

Thus  the  Lord  saved  Israel  that  day  out  of  the 
hand  of  the  Egyptians ;  and  Israel  saw  the  Egyp- 
tians dead  upon  the  sea  shore.  And  Israel  saw 
that  great  work  which  the  Lord  did  upon  the  Egyp- 
tians :  and  the  people  feared  the  Lord,  and  believed 
the  Lord,  and  his  servant  Moses. 

MOSES'  UPHELD  HANDS  WIN  THE 
BATTLE 

(Exo.lusxvii.  8-16) 

Then  came  Amalek,  and  fought  with  Israel  in 
Rephidim.  And  Moses  said  unto  Joshua,  Choose 
us  out  men,  and  go  out,  fight  with  Amalek :  to  mor- 
row I  will  stand  on  the  top  of  the  hill  with  the  rod 
of  God  in  mine  hand.  So  Joshua  did  as  Moses 
had  said  to  him,  and  fought  with  Amalek:  and 
Moses,  Aaron,  and  Hur  went  up  to  the  top  of  the 
hill.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  held  up  his 
hand,  that  Israel  prevailed :  and  when  he  let  down 
his  hand,  Amalek  prevailed.  But  Moses'  hands 
were  heavy;  and  they  took  a  stone,  and  put  it 
under  him,  and  he  sat  thereon ;  and  Aaron  and  Hur 
stayed  up  his  hands,  the  one  on  the  one  side,  and 
the  other  on  the  other  side;  and  his  hands  were 
steady  until  the  going  down  of  the  sun.  And 
Joshua  discomfited  Amalek  and  his  people  with  the 
edge  of  the  sword.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses, 
Write  this  for  a  memorial  in  a  book,  and  rehearse 

117 


BIBLE  STORIES 

it  in  the  ears  of  Joshua :  for  I  will  utterly  put  out 
the  remembrance  of  Amalek  from  under  heaven. 
And  Moses  built  an  altar,  and  called  the  name  of 
it  Jehovah-nissi :  for  he  said,  Because  the  Lord 
hath  sworn  that  the  Lord  will  have  war  with 
Amalek  from  generation  to  generation. 

MIRIAM  BECOMES  A  LEPER 

(Numbers  xii.  1-15) 

And  Miriam  and  Aaron  spake  against  Moses 
because  of  the  Ethiopian  woman  whom  he  had 
married :  for  he  had  married  an  Ethiopian  woman. 
And  they  said,  Hath  the  Lord  indeed  spoken  only 
by  Moses?  hath  he  not  spoken  also  by  us  I 

And  the  Lord  heard  it.  (Now  the  man  Moses 
was  very  meek,  above  all  the  men  which  ivere 
upon  the  face  of  the  earth.)  And  the  Lord  spake 
suddenly  unto  Moses,  and  unto  Aaron,  and  unto 
Miriam,  Come  out  ye  three  unto  the  tabernacle  of 
the  congregation.  And  they  three  came  out.  And 
the  Lord  came  down  in  the  pillar  of  the  cloud, 
and  stood  in  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  and  called 
Aaron  and  Miriam:  and  they  both  came  forth. 
And  he  said,  Hear  now  my  words :  If  there  be  a 
prophet  among  you,  /  the  Lord  will  make  myself 
known  unto  him  in  a  vision,  and  will  speak  unto 
him  in  a  dream.  My  servant  Moses  is  not  so, 
who  is  faithful  in  all  mine  house.  With  him  will 
I  speak  mouth  to  mouth,  even  apparently,  and  not 
in  dark  speeches;  and  the  similitude  of  the  Lord 

118 


BIBLE  STORIES 

shall  he  behold :  wherefore  then  were  ye  not  afraid 
to  speak  against  my  servant  Moses? 

And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled  against 
them;  and  he  departed.  And  the  cloud  departed 
from  off  the  tabernacle;  and,  behold,  Miriam  he- 
cmne  leprous,  ivhite  as  snow:  and  Aaron  looked 
upon  Miriam,  and,  behold,  she  tvas  leprous. 

And  Aaron  said  unto  Moses,  Alas,  my  lord,  I 
beseech  thee,  lay  not  the  sin  upon  us,  wherein  we 
have  done  foolishly,  and  wherein  we  have  sinned. 
Let  her  not  be  as  one  dead,  of  whom  the  flesh  is 
half  consumed. 

And  Moses  cried  unto  the  Lord,  saying,  'Heal 
her  now,  0  God,  I  beseech  thee. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  If  her  father  had 
but  spit  in  her  face,  should  she  not  be  ashamed 
seven  days?  let  her  be  shut  out  from  the  camp 
seven  days,  and  after  that  let  her  be  received  in 
again. 

And  Miriam  was  shut  out  from  the  camp  seven 
days :  and  the  people  journeyed  not  till  Miriam 
was  brought  in  agam. 

THE  BRAZEN  SERPENT 

(Numbers  xxi.  4-9) 

And  they  journeyed  from  mount  Hor  by  the  way 
of  the  Red  sea,  to  compass  the  land  of  Edom :  and 
the  soul  of  the  people  was  much  discouraged  be- 
cause of  the  way.  And  the  people  spake  against 
God,    and    against    Moses,    Wherefore    have    ye 

119 


BIBLE  STORIES 

brought  us  up  out  of  Egypt  to  die  in  the  wilder- 
ness! for  there  is  no  bread,  neither  is  there  any 
water;  and  our  soul  loatheth  this  light  bread. 

And  the  Lord  sent  fiery  serpents  among  the  peo- 
ple, and  they  bit  the  people ;  and  much  people  of 
Israel  died.  Therefore  the  people  came  to  Moses, 
and  said.  We  have  sinned,  for  we  have  spoken 
against  the  Lord,  and  against  thee ;  pray  unto  the 
Lord,  that  he  take  away  the  serpents  from  us. 

And  Moses  prayed  for  the  people.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Make  thee  a  fiery  serpent, 
and  set  it  upon  a  pole :  and  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
that  every  one  that  is  bitten,  when  he  looketh 
upon  it,  shall  live.  And  Moses  made  a  serpent 
of  brass,  and  put  it  upon  a  pole ;  and  it  came  to 
pass,  that  if  a  serpent  had  bitten  any  man,  when 
he  beheld  the  serpent  of  brass,  he  lived. 

MOSES'  EOD  BRINGS  WATER  FROM 
THE  ROCK 

(Exodus  xvii.  1-7) 

And  all  the  congregation  of  the  children  of 
Israel  journeyed  from  the  wilderness  of  Sin,  after 
their  journeys,  according  to  the  commandment  of 
the  Lord,  and  pitched  in  Rephidim :  and  there  was 
no  water  for  the  people  to  drink.  Wherefore  the 
people  did  chide  with  Moses,  and  said.  Give  us 
water  that  we  may  drink.  And  Moses  said  unto 
them,  Why  chide  ye  with  me?  wherefore  do  ye 
tempt  the  Lord?    And  the  people  thirsted  there 

120 


BIBLE  STORIES 

for  water;  and  the  people  murmured  against 
Moses,  and  said,  Wherefore  is  this  that  thou  hast 
brought  us  up  out  of  Egypt,  to  kill  us  and  our 
children  and  our  cattle  with  thirst  ? 

And  Moses  cried  unto  the  Lord,  saying,  What 
shall  I  do  unto  this  people?  they  be  almost  ready 
to  stone  me.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  on 
before  the  people,  and  take  with  thee  of  the  elders 
of  Israel;  and  thy  rod,  wherewith  thou  smotest 
the  river,  take  in  thine  hand,  and  go.  Behold, 
I  will  stand  before  thee  there  upon  the  rock  in 
Horeb;  and  thou  shalt  smite  the  rock,  and  there 
shall  come  water  out  of  it,  that  the  people  may 
drink.  And  Moses  did  so  in  the  sight  of  the  elders 
of  Israel.  And  he  called  the  name  of  the  place 
Mas  sail,  and  Meribah,  because  of  the  chiding  of 
the  children  of  Israel,  and  because  they  tempted 
the  Lord,  saying.  Is  the  Lord  among  us,  or  not? 

THE  GOLDEN  CALF 

(Exodus  xxxii.  1-35) 

And  when  the  people  saw  that  Moses  delayed 
to  come  down  out  of  the  mount,  the  people  gath- 
ered themselves  together  unto  Aaron,  and  said 
unto  him,  Up,  make  us  gods,  which  shall  go  before 
us;  for  as  for  this  Moses,  the  man  that  brought 
us  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  we  wot  not  what 
is  become  of  him.  And  Aaron  said  unto  them, 
Break  oif  the  golden  earrings,  which  are  in  the 
ears  of  your  wives,  of  your  sons,  and  of  your 

121 


BIBLE  STORIES 

daughters,  and  bring  them  unto  me.  And  all  the 
people  brake  off  the  golden  earrings  which  were  in 
their  ears,  and  brought  them  unto  Aaron.  And 
he  received  them  at  their  hand,  and  fashioned  it 
with  a  graving  tool,  after  he  had  made  it  a  molten 
calf:  and  they  said.  These  he  thy  gods,  0  Israel, 
which  brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
And  when  Aaron  saw  it,  he  built  an  altar  before 
it;  and  Aaron  made  proclamation,  and  said,  To 
morrow  is  a  feast  to  the  Lord.  And  they  rose  up 
early  on  the  morrow,  and  offered  burnt  offerings, 
and  brought  peace  offerings;  and  the  people  sat 
down  to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  rose  up  to  play. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go,  get  thee 
down ;  for  thy  people,  which  thou  broughtest  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt,  have  corrupted  themselves: 
they  have  turned  aside  quickly  out  of  the  way 
which  I  commanded  them :  they  have  made  them  a 
molten  calf,  and  have  worshipped  it,  and  have  sac- 
rificed thereunto,  and  said.  These  be  thy  gods,  0 
Israel,  which  have  brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  I  have 
seen  this  people,  and,  behold,  it  is  a  stiffnecked 
people :  now  therefore  let  me  alone,  that  my  wrath 
may  wax  hot  against  them,  and  that  I  may  con- 
sume them :  and  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation. 

And  Moses  besought  the  Lord  his  God,  and  said. 
Lord,  why  doth  thy  wrath  wax  hot  against  thy 
people,  which  thou  hast  brought  forth  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt  with  great  power,  and  with  a  mighty 
hand?    Wherefore  should  the  Egyptians  speak, 

122 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  say,  For  mischief  did  he  bring  them  out,  to 
slay  them  in  the  mountains,  and  to  consume  them 
from  the  face  of  the  earth!  Turn  from  thy  fierce 
wrath,  and  repent  of  this  evil  against  thy  people. 
Remember  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Israel,  thy  serv- 
ants, to  whom  thou  swarest  by  thine  own  self,  and 
saidst  unto  them,  I  will  multiply  your  seed  as  the 
stars  of  heaven,  and  all  this  land  that  I  have 
spoken  of  will  I  give  unto  your  seed,  and  they 
shall  inherit  it  for  ever.  And  the  Lord  repented 
of  the  evil  which  he  thought  to  do  unto  his  people. 

And  Moses  turned,  and  went  down  from  the 
mount,  and  the  two  tables  of  the  testimony  were 
in  his  hand :  the  tables  were  written  on  both  their 
sides ;  on  the  one  side  and  on  the  other  ivere  they 
written.  And  the  tables  ivere  the  work  of  God, 
and  the  writing  was  the  writing  of  God,  graven 
upon  the  tables. 

And  when  Joshua  heard  the  noise  of  the  people 
as  they  shouted,  he  said  unto  Moses,  There  is 
a  noise  of  war  in  the  camp.  And  he  said.  It  is 
not  the  voice  of  them  that  shout  for  mastery, 
neither  is  it  the  voice  of  them  that  cry  for  being 
overcome:  but  the  noise  of  them  that  sing  do  I 
hear.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  soon  as  he  came 
nigh  unto  the  camp,  that  he  saw  the  calf,  and  the 
dancing:  and  Moses'  anger  waxed  hot,  and  he 
cast  the  tables  out  of  his  hands,  and  brake  them 
beneath  the  mount.  And  he  took  the  calf  which 
they  had  made,  and  burnt  it  in  the  fire,  and  ground 

125 


BIBLE  STORIES 

it  to  powder,  and  strawed  it  upon  the  water,  and 
made  the  children  of  Israel  drink  of  it. 

And  Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  What  did  this 
people  unto  thee,  that  thou  hast  brought  so  great 
a  sin  upon  them?  And  Aaron  said.  Let  not  the 
anger  of  my  lord  wax  hot :  thou  knowest  the  peo- 
ple, that  they  are  set  on  mischief.  For  they  said 
unto  me.  Make  us  gods,  which  shall  go  before  us : 
for  as  for  this  Moses,  the  man  that  brought  us  up 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  we  wot  not  what  is  be- 
come of  him.  And  I  said  unto  them,  Whosoever 
hath  any  gold,  let  them  break  it  off.  So  they  gave 
it  me :  then  I  cast  it  into  the  fire,  and  there  came 
out  this  calf. 

And  when  Moses  saw  that  the  people  tvere 
naked;  (for  Aaron  had  made  them  naked  unto 
their  shame  among  their  enemies:)  then  Moses 
stood  in  the  gate  of  the  camp,  and  said.  Who  is 
on  the  Lord 's  side  ?  let  him  come  unto  me.  And  all 
the  sons  of  Levi  gathered  themselves  together 
unto  him.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel,  Put  every  man  his  sword  by 
his  side,  and  go  in  and  out  from  gate  to  gate 
throughout  the  camp,  and  slay  every  man  his 
brother,  and  every  man  his  companion,  and  every 
man  his  neighbour.  And  the  children  of  Levi  did 
according  to  the  word  of  Moses :  and  there  fell  of 
the  people  that  day  about  three  thousand  men. 
For  Moses  had  said,  Consecrate  yourselves  to  day 
to  the  Lord,  even  every  man  upon  his  son,  and 

126 


BIBLE  STORIES 

upon  his  brother;  that  he  may  bestow  upon  a 
blessmg  this  day. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that  Moses 
said  unto  the  people,  Ye  have  sinned  a  great  sin : 
and  now  I  will  go  up  unto  the  Lord  ;  peradventure 
I  shall  make  an  atonement  for  your  sin.  And 
Moses  returned  unto  the  Lord,  and  said,  Oh,  this 
people  have  sinned  a  great  sin,  and  have  made 
them  gods  of  gold.  Yet  now,  if  thou  wilt  forgive 
their  sin — ;  and  if  not,  blot  me,  I  pray  thee,  out 
of  thy  book  which  thou  hast  written. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Whosoever  hath 
sinned  against  me,  him  will  I  blot  out  of  my  book. 
Therefore  now  go,  lead  the  people  unto  the  place 
of  which  I  have  spoken  unto  thee:  behold,  mine 
Angel  shall  go  before  thee :  nevertheless  in  the  day 
when  I  visit  I  will  visit  their  sin  upon  them. 

And  the  Lord  plagued  the  people,  because  they 
made  the  calf,  which  Aaron  made. 

BALAAM'S  ASS  SPHAKS 

(Numbers  xxii.  2-41 ) 

And  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor  saw  all  that  Israel 
had  done  to  the  Amorites.  And  Moab  was  sore 
afraid  of  the  people,  because  they  ivere  many :  and 
Moab  was  distressed  because  of  the  children  of 
Israel.  And  Moab  said  unto  the  elders  of  Midian, 
Now  shall  this  company  lick  up  all  that  are  round 
about  us,  as  the  ox  licketh  up  the  grass  of  the 
field.    And  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor  was  king  of 

127 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  Moabites  at  that  time.  He  sent  messengers 
therefore  unto  Balaam  the  son  of  Beor  to  Pethor, 
which  is  by  the  river  of  the  land  of  the  children 
of  his  people,  to  call  him,  saying.  Behold,  there  is 
a  people  come  out  from  Egypt :  behold,  they  cover 
the  face  of  the  earth,  and  they  abide  over  against 
me :  come  now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  curse  me  this 
people ;  for  they  are  too  mighty  for  me :  peradven- 
ture  I  shall  prevail,  that  we  may  smite  them,  and 
that  I  may  drive  them  out  of  the  land :  for  I  wot 
that  he  whom  thou  blessest  is  blessed,  and  he  whom 
thou  cursest  is  cursed. 

And  the  elders  of  Moab  and  the  elders  of  Mid- 
ian  departed  with  the  rewards  of  divination  in 
their  hand ;  and  they  came  unto  Balaam,  and  spake 
unto  him  the  words  of  Balak.  And  he  said  unto 
them.  Lodge  here  this  night,  and  I  will  bring  you 
word  again,  as  the  Lord  shall  speak  unto  me :  and 
the  princes  of  Moab  abode  with  Balaam. 

And  God  came  unto  Balaam,  and  said.  What 
men  are  these  with  thee? 

And  Balaam  said  unto  God,  Balak  the  son  of 
Zippor,  king  of  Moab,  hath  sent  unto  me,  saying, 
Behold,  there  is  a  people  come  out  of  Egypt,  which 
covereth  the  face  of  the  earth:  come  now,  curse 
me  them;  peradventure  I  shall  be  able  to  over- 
come them,  and  drive  them  out. 

And  God  said  unto  Balaam,  Thou  shalt  not  go 
with  them ;  thou  shalt  not  curse  the  people :  for 
they  are  blessed. 

And  Balaam  rose  up  in  the  morning,  and  said 
128 


BIBLE  STORIES 

unto  the  princes  of  Balak,  Get  you  into  your  land : 
for  the  Lord  refuseth  to  give  me  leave  to  go  with 
you.  And  the  princes  of  Moab  rose  up,  and  they 
went  unto  Balak,  and  said,  Balaam  refuseth  to 
come  with  us. 

And  Balak  sent  yet  again  princes,  more,  and 
more  honourable  than  they.  And  they  came  to 
Balaam,  and  said  to  him.  Thus  saith  Balak  the  son 
of  Zippor,  Let  nothing,  I  pray  thee,  hinder  thee 
from  coming  unto  me :  for  I  will  promote  thee  unto 
very  great  honour,  and  I  will  do  whatsoever  thou 
sayest  unto  me :  come  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  curse 
me  this  people. 

And  Balaam  answered  and  said  unto  the  serv- 
ants of  Balak,  If  Balak  would  give  me  his  house 
full  of  silver  and  gold,  I  cannot  go  beyond  the 
word  of  the  Lord  my  God,  to  do  less  or  more. 
Now  therefore,  I  pray  3^ou,  tarry  ye  also  here  this 
night,  that  I  may  know  what  the  Lord  will  say 
unto  me  more. 

And  God  came  unto  Balaam  at  night,  and  said 
unto  him.  If  the  men  come  to  call  thee,  rise  up, 
and  go  with  them ;  but  yet  the  word  which  I  shall 
say  unto  thee,  that  shalt  thou  do. 

And  Balaam  rose  up  in  the  morning,  and  sad- 
dled his  ass,  and  went  with  the  princes  of  Moab. 

And  God's  anger  was  kindled  because  he  went; 
and  the  angel  of  the  Lord  stood  in  the  way  for  an 
adversary  against  him.  Now  he  was  riding  upon 
his  ass,  and  his  two  servants  were  with  him. 
And  the  ass  saw  the  angel  of  the  Lord  standing 

129 


BIBLE  STORIES 

in  the  way,  and  his  sword  drawn  in  his  hand :  and 
the  ass  turned  aside  out  of  the  way,  and  went  into 
the  field:  and  Balaam  smote  the  ass,  to  turn  her 
into  the  way.  But  the  angel  of  the  Lord  stood  in 
a  path  of  the  vineyards,  a  wall  being  on  this  side, 
and  a  wall  on  that  side.  And  when  the  ass  saw 
the  angel  of  the  Lord,  she  thrust  herself  unto  the 
wall,  and  crushed  Balaam's  foot  against  the  wall: 
and  he  smote  her  again.  And  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  went  further,  and  stood  in  a  narrow  place, 
where  was  no  way  to  turn  either  to  the  right  hand 
or  to  the  left.  And  when  the  ass  saw  the  angel 
of  the  Lord,  she  fell  down  under  Balaam :  and  Ba- 
laam's  anger  was  kindled,  and  he  smote  the  ass 
with  a  staff. 

And  the  Lord  opened  the  mouth  of  the  ass,  and 
she  said  unto  Balaam,  What  have  I  done  unto 
thee,  that  thou  hast  smitten  me  these  three  times  ? 
And  Balaam  said  unto  the  ass.  Because  thou  hast 
mocked  me :  I  would  there  were  a  sword  in  mine 
hand,  for  now  would  I  kill  thee.  And  the  ass  said 
unto  Balaam,  Am  not  I  thine  ass,  upon  which  thou 
hast  ridden  ever  since  /  was  thine  unto  this  day? 
was  I  ever  wont  to  do  so  unto  thee  ?  And  he  said, 
Nay. 

Then  the  Lord  opened  the  eyes  of  Balaam,  and 
he  saw  the  angel  of  the  Lord  standing  in  the  way, 
and  his  sword  drawn  in  his  hand:  and* he  bowed 
down  his  head,  and  fell  flat  on  his  face.  And  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Wherefore  hast 
thou  smitten  thine  ass  these  three  times?  behold, 

130 


BIBLE  STORIES 

I  went  out  to  withstand  thee,  because  thy  way  is 
perverse  before  me:  and  the  ass  saw  me,  and 
turned  from  me  these  three  times :  unless  she  had 
turned  from  me,  surely  now  also  I  had  slain  thee, 
and  saved  her  alive. 

And  Balaam  said  unto  the  angel  of  the  Lord, 
I  have  sinned ;  for  I  knew  not  that  thou  stoodest 
in  the  way  against  me:  now  therefore,  if  it  di's- 
please  thee,  I  will  get  me  back  agam. 

And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  Balaam, 
Go  with  the  men:  but  only  the  word  that  I  shall 
speak  unto  thee,  that  thou  shalt  speak.  So  Ba- 
laam went  with  the  princes  of  Balak. 

MOSES  VIEWETH  THE  PROMISED  LAND 

(Deuteronomy  xxxii.  48-52;  xxxiv.  1-12) 

And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  that  selfsame 
day,  saying,  Get  thee  up  into  this  mountain 
Abarim,  unto  mount  Nebo,  which  is  in  the  land  of 
Moab,  that  is  over  against  Jericho ;  and  behold  the 
land  of  Canaan,  which  I  give  unto  the  children  of 
Israel  for  a  possession:  and  die  in  the  mount 
whither  thou  goest  up,  and  be  gathered  unto  thy 
people ;  as  Aaron  thy  brother  died  in  mount  Hor, 
and  was  gathered  unto  his  people :  because  ye  tres- 
passed against  me  among  the  children  of  Israel 
at  the  waters  of  Meribah-Kadesh,  in  the  wilderness 
of  Zin;  because  ye  sanctified  me  not  in  the  midst 
of  the  children  of  Israel.  Yet  thou  shalt  see  the 
land  before  thee;  but  thou  shalt  not  go  thither 

131 


BIBLE  STORIES 

unto  the  land  which  I  give  the  children  of  Israel. 

And  Moses  went  up  from  the  plains  of  Moab 
unto  the  mountain  of  Nebo,  to  the  top  of  Pisgah, 
that  is  over  against  Jericho :  And  the  Loed  shewed 
him  all  the  land  of  Gilead,  unto  Dan,  and  all 
Naphtali,  and  the  land  of  Ephr^aim,  and  Manasseh, 
and  all  the  land  of  Judah,  unto  the  utmost  sea,  and 
the  south,  and  the  plain  of  the  valley  of  Jericho, 
the  city  of  palm  trees,  unto  Zoar.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  him.  This  is  the  land  which  I  sware  unto 
Abraham,  unto  Isaac,  and  unto  Jacob,  saying,  I 
will  give  it  unto  thy  seed:  I  have  caused  thee  to 
see  it  with  thine  eyes,  but  thou  shalt  not  go  over 
thither. 

So  Moses  the  servant  of  the  Lord  died  there  in 
the  land  of  Moab,  according  to  the  word  of  the 
Lord.  And  he  buried  him  in  a  valley  in  the  land 
of  Moab,  over  against  Bethpeor:  but  no  man 
knoweth  of  his  sepulchre  unto  this  day. 

And  Moses  was  a  hundred  and  twenty  years  old 
when  he  died:  his  eye  was  not  dim,  nor  his  nat- 
ural force  abated. 

And  the  children  of  Israel  wept  for  Moses  in 
the  plains  of  Moab  thirty  days:  so  the  days  of 
weeping  and  mourning  for  Moses  were  ended. 

And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  was  full  of  the  spirit 
of  wisdom;  for  Moses  had  laid  his  hands  upon 
him:  and  the  children  of  Israel  hearkened  unto 
him,  and  did  as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 

And  there  arose  not  a  prophet  since  in  Israel 
like  unto  Moses,  whom  the  Lord  knew  face  to  face, 

132 


BIBLE  STORIES 

in  all  the  signs  and  the  wonders  which  the  Lord 
sent  him  to  do  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  to  Pharaoh, 
and  to  all  his  servants,  and  to  all  his  land,  and 
in  all  that  mighty  hand,  and  in  all  the  great  terror 
which  Moses  shewed  in  the  sight  of  all  Israel. 

RAHAB  AND  THE  SPIES 

(Joshua  ii.  1-24) 

And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  sent  out  of  Shittim 
two  men  to  spy  secretly,  saying.  Go  view  the  land, 
even  Jericho.  And  they  went,  and  came  into  a 
harlot's  house,  named  Rahab,  and  lodged  there. 

And  it  was  told  the  king  of  Jericho,  saying.  Be- 
hold, there  came  men  in  hither  to  night  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  to  search  out  the  country.  And  the 
king  of  Jericho  sent  unto  Rahab,  saying.  Bring 
forth  the  men  that  are  come  to  thee,  which  are 
entered  into  thine  house:  for  they  be  come  to 
search  out  all  the  country. 

And  the  woman  took  the  two  men,  and  hid  them, 
and  said  thus.  There  came  men  unto  me,  but  I 
wist  not  whence  they  were:  and  it  came  to  pass 
about  the  time  of  shutting  of  the  gate,  when  it  was 
dark,  that  the  men  went  out;  whither  the  men 
went,  I  wot  not :  pursue  after  them  quickly ;  for 
ye  shall  overtake  them.  But  she  had  brought 
them  up  to  the  roof  of  the  house,  and  hid  them 
with  the  stalks  of  flax,  which  she  had  laid  in  order 
upon  the  roof.  And  the  men  pursued  after  them 
the  way  to  Jordan  unto  the  fords:  and  as  soon 

133 


BIBLE  STORIES 

as  they  which  pursued  after  them  were  gone  out, 
they  shut  the  gate. 

And  before  they  were  laid  down,  she  came  up 
unto  them  upon  the  roof;  and  she  said  unto  the 
men,  I  know  that  the  Lord  hath  given  you  the  land, 
and  that  your  terror  is  fallen  upon  us,  and  that 
•all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  faint  because  of  you. 
For  we  have  heard  how  the  Lord  dried  up  the 
water  of  the  Red  Sea  for  you,  when  ye  came  out 
of  Egypt ;  and  what  ye  did  unto  the  two  kings  of 
the  Amorites,  that  were  on  the  other  side  Jordan, 
Sihon  and  Og,  whom  ye  utterly  destroyed.  And 
as  soon  as  we  had  heard  these  things,  our  hearts 
did  melt,  neither  did  there  remain  any  more  cour- 
age in  any  man,  because  of  you :  for  the  Lord  your 
Ood,  he  is  God  in  heaven  above,  and  in  earth  be- 
neath. Now  therefore,  I  pray  you,  swear  unto 
me  by  the  Lord,  since  I  have  shewed  you  kindness, 
that  ye  will  also  shew  kindness  unto  my  father's 
house,  and  give  me  a  true  token :  and  that  ye  will 
.save  alive  my  father,  and  my  mother,  and  my 
brethren,  and  my  sisters,  and  all  that  they  have, 
and  deliver  our  lives  froni  death. 

And  the  men  answered  her.  Our  life  for  yours, 
if  ye  utter  not  this  our  business.  And  it  shall  be, 
when  the  Lord  hath  given  us  the  land,  that  we 
will  deal  kindly  and  truly  with  thee. 

Then  she  let  them  down  by  a  cord  through  the 
window:  for  her  house  ivas  upon  the  town  wall, 
and  she  dwelt  upon  the  wall.  And  she  said  unto 
them.  Get  you  to  the  mountain,  lest  the  pursuers 

134 


BIBLE  STORIES 

meet  you;  and  hide  yourselves  there  three  days, 
until  the  pursuers  be  returned :  and  afterward  may 
ye  go  your  way. 

And  the  men  said  unto  her,  We  will  be  blameless 
of  this  thine  oath  which  thou  hast  made  us  swear. 
Behold,  ivJien  we  come  into  the  land,  thou  shalt 
bind  this  line  of  scarlet  thread  in  the  window 
which  thou  didst  let  us  down  by:  and  thou  shalt 
bring  thy  father,  and  thy  mother,  and  thy  breth- 
ren, and  all  thy  father's  household,  home  unto 
thee.  And  it  shall  be,  that  whosoever  shall  go  out 
of  the  doors  of  thy  house  into  the  street,  his  blood 
shall  he  upon  his  head,  and  we  will  be  guiltless : 
and  whosoever  shall  be  with  thee  in  the  house,  his 
blood  shall  be  on  our  head,  if  any  hand  be  upon 
him.  And  if  thou  utter  this  our  business,  then  we 
will  be  quit  of  thine  oath  which  thou  hast  made 
us  to  swear.  And  she  said,  According  unto  your 
words,  so  be  it.  And  she  sent  them  away,  and  they 
departed:  and  she  bound  the  scarlet  line  in  the 
window. 

And  they  went,  and  came  unto  the  mountain, 
and  abode  there  three  days,  until  the  pursuers 
were  returned:  and  the  pursuers  sought  them 
throughout  all  the  way,  but  found  them  not. 

So  the  two  men  returned,  and  descended  from 
the  mountain,  and  passed  over,  and  came  to 
Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  and  told  him  all  things 
that  befell  them:  And  they  said  unto  Joshua, 
Truly  the  Lokd  hath  delivered  into  our  hands  all 

135 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  land ;  for  even  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try do  faint  because  of  us. 

THE  WALLS  OF  JERICHO  FALL  DOWN 

( Josliua  vi.  1-27  ) 

Now  Jericho  was  straitly  shut  up  because  of  the 
children  of  Israel :  none  went  out,  and  none  came 
in. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  See,  I  have 
given  into  thine  hand  Jericho,  and  the  king  thereof, 
and  the  mighty  men  of  valour.  And  ye  shall  com- 
pass the  city,  all  ye  men  of  war,  and  go  round  about 
the  city  once.  Thus  shalt  thou  do  six  days.  And 
seven  priests  shall  bear  before  the  ark  seven  trum- 
pets of  rams '  horns :  and  the  seventh  day  ye  shall 
compass  the  city  seven  times,  and  the  priests  shall 
blow  with  the  trumpets.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
that  when  they  make  a  long  blast  with  the  ram's 
horn,  and  when  ye  hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, 
all  the  people  shall  shout  with  a  great  shout ;  and 
the  wall  of  the  city  shall  fall  down  flat,  and  the 
people  shall  ascend  up  every  man  straight  before 
him. 

And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  called  the  priests, 
and  said  unto  them.  Take  up  the  ark  of  the  cove- 
nant, and  let  seven  priests  bear  seven  trumpets 
of  rams'  horns  before  the  ark  of  the  Lord.  And 
he  said  unto  the  people.  Pass  on,  and  compass  the 
city,  and  let  him  that  is  armed  pass  on  before  the 
ark  of  the  Lord. 

136 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joshua  had  spoken 
unto  the  people,  that  the  seven  priests  bearing  the 
seven  trumpets  of  rams'  horns  passed  on  before 
the  Lord,  and  blew  with  the  trumpets:  and  the 
ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  followed  them. 
And  the  armed  men  went  before  the  priests  that 
blew  with  the  trumpets,  and  the  rearward  came 
after  the  ark,  the  priests  going  on,  and  blowing 
with  the  trumpets.  And  Joshua  had  commanded 
the  people,  saying.  Ye  shall  not  shout,  nor  make 
any  noise  with  your  voice,  neither  shall  any  word 
proceed  out  of  your  mouth,  until  the  day  I  bid 
you  shout ;  then  shall  ye  shout.  So  the  ark  of  the 
Lord  compassed  the  city,  going  about  it  once :  and 
they  came  into  the  camp,  and  lodged  in  the  camp. 

And  Joshua  rose  early  in  the  morning,  and  the 
priests  took  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord.  And  seven 
priests  bearing  seven  trumpets  of  rams'  horns 
before  the  ark  of  the  Lord  went  on  continually, 
and  blew  with  the  trumpets :  and  the  armed  men 
went  before  them ;  but  the  rearward  came  after  the 
ark  of  the  Lord,  the  priests  going  on,  and  blowing 
with  the  trumpets.  And  the  second  day  they  com- 
passed the  city  once,  and  returned  into  the  camp : 
so  they  did  six  days. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day,  that 
they  rose  early  about  the  dawning  of  the  day,  and 
compassed  the  city  after  the  same  manner  seven 
times:  only  on  that  day  they  compassed  the  city 
seven  times. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  seventh  time,  when 
139 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  priests  blew  with  the  trumpets,  Joshua  said 
unto  the  people,  Shout;  for  the  Lord  hath  given 
you  the  city.  And  the  city  shall  be  accursed,  even 
it,  and  all  that  are  therein,  to  the  Lord  :  only  Rahab 
the  harlot  shall  live,  she  and  all  that  are  with 
her  in  the  house,  because  she  hid  the  messengers 
that  we  sent.  And  ye,  in  any  wise  keep  yourselves 
from  the  accursed  thing,  lest  ye  make  yourselves 
accursed,  when  ye  take  of  the  accursed  thing,  and 
make  the  camp  of  Israel  a  curse,  and  trouble  it. 
But  all  the  silver,  and  gold,  and  vessels  of  brass 
and  iron,  are  consecrated  unto  the  Lord  :  they  shall 
come  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord. 

So  the  people  shouted  when  the  priest  blew 
with  the  trumpets :  and  it  came  to  pass,  when  the 
people  heard  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  and  the 
people  shouted  with  a  great  shout,  that  the  wall 
fell  down  flat,  so  that  the  people  went  up  into  the 
city,  every  man  straight  before  him,  and  they 
took  the  city.  And  they  utterly  destroyed  all 
that  was  in  the  city,  both  man  and  woman,  young 
and  old,  and  ox,  and  sheep,  and  ass,  with  the  edge 
of  the  sword. 

But  Joshua  had  said  unto  the  two  men  that  had 
spied  out  the  country.  Go  into  the  harlot's  house, 
and  bring  out  thence  the  woman,  and  all  that  she 
hath,  as  ye  sware  unto  her.  And  the  young  men 
that  were  spies  went  in,  and  brought  out  Rahab, 
and  her  father,  and  her  mother,  and  her  brethren, 
and  all  that  she  had;  and  they  brought  out  all 

140 


BIBLE  STORIES 

her  kindred,  and  left  them  without  the  camp  of 
Israel. 

And  they  burnt  the  city  with  fire,  and  all  that 
ivas  therein:  only  the  silver,  and  the  gold,  and 
the  vessels  of  brass  and  of  iron,  they  put  into  the 
treasury  of  the  house  of  the  Loed. 

And  Joshua  saved  Rahab  the  harlot  alive,  and 
her  father 's  household,  and  all  that  she  had ;  and 
she  dwelleth  in  Israel  even  unto  this  day;  because 
she  hid  the  messengers,  which  Joshua  sent  to  spy 
out  Jericho. 

And  Joshua  adjured  them  at  that  time,  saying. 
Cursed  be  the  man  before  the  Lord,  that  riseth  up 
and  buildeth  this  city  Jericho:  he  shall  lay  the 
foundation  thereof  in  his  firstborn,  and  in  his 
youngest  son  shall  he  set  up  the  gates  of  it. 

So  the  Loed  was  with  Joshua ;  and  his  fame  was 
noised  throughout  all  the  country. 

THE  GIBEONITES'  CRAFT 

(Joshua ix. 3-27) 

And  when  the  inhabitants  of  Gibeon  heard  what 
Joshua  had  done  unto  Jericho  and  to  Ai,  they 
did  work  wilily,  and  went  and  made  as  if  they  had 
been  ambassadors,  and  took  old  sacks  upon  their 
asses,  and  wine  bottles,  old,  and  rent,  and  bound 
up;  and  old  shoes  and  clouted  upon  their  feet,  and 
old  garments  upon  them;  and  all  the  bread  of 
their  provision  was  dry  and  mouldy.    And  they 

141 


BIBLE  STORIES 

went  to  Joshua  unto  the  camp  at  Gilgal,  and  said 
unto  him,  and  to  the  men  of  Israel,  We  be  come 
from  a  far  country:  nov  therefore  make  ye  a 
league  with  us. 

And  the  men  of  Israel  said  unto  the  Hivites, 
Peradventure  ye  dwell  among  us;  and  how  shall 
we  make  a  league  with  you  ? 

And  they  said  unto  Joshua,  We  are  thy  serv- 
ants. 

And  Joshua  said  unto  them.  Who  are  ye?  and 
from  whence  come  ye  ? 

And  they  said  unto  him,  Trom  a  very  far  coun- 
try thy  servants  are  come,  because  of  the  name  of 
the  Lord  thy  God :  for  we  have  heard  the  fame  of 
him,  and  all  that  he  did  in  Egypt,  and  all  that  he 
did  to  the  two  kings  of  the  Amorites,  that  were 
beyond  Jordan,  to  Sihon  king  of  Heshbon,  and  to 
Og  king  of  Bashan,  which  was  at  Ashtaroth. 
Wherefore  our  elders  and  all  the  inhabitants  of 
our  country  spake  to  us,  saying,  Take  victuals 
with  you  for  the  journey,  and  go  to  meet  them,  and 
say  unto  them.  We  are  your  servants :  therefore 
now  make  ye  a  league  with  us.  This  our  bread  W6 
took  hot  for  our  provision  out  of  our  houses  on 
the  day  we  came  forth  to  go  unto  you;  but  now, 
behold,  it  is  dry,  and  it  is  mouldy :  and  these  bot- 
tles of  wine,  which  we  filled,  were  new;  and,  be- 
hold, they  be  rent :  and  these  our  garments  and  our 
shoes  are  become  old  by  reason  of  the  very  long 
journey. 

And  the  men  took  of  their  victuals,  and  asked 
142 


BIBLE  STORIES 

not  counsel  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lord.  And  Joshua 
made  peace  with  them,  and  made  a  league  with 
them,  to  let  them  live :  and  the  princes  of  the  con- 
gregation sware  unto    hem. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  three  days 
after  they  had  made  a  league  with  them,  that  they 
heard  that  they  were  their  neighbours,  and  that 
they  dwelt  among  them.  And  the  children  of 
Israel  journeyed,  and  came  unto  their  cities  on 
the  third  day.  And  the  children  of  Israel  smote 
them  not,  because  the  princes  of  the  congregation 
had  sworn  unto  them  by  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 

And  all  the  congregation  murmured  against  the 
princes. 

But  all  the  princes  said  unto  all  the  congrega- 
tion. We  have  sworn  unto  them  by  the  Lord  God 
of  Israel:  now  therefore  we  may  not  touch  them. 
This  we  will  do  to  them ;  we  will  even  let  them  live, 
lest  wrath  be  upon  us,  because  of  the  oath  which 
we  sware  unto  them.  And  the  princes  said  unto 
them.  Let  them  live;  but  let  them  be  hewers  of 
wood  and  drawers  of  water  unto  all  the  congrega- 
tion ;  as  the  princes  had  promised  them. 

And  Joshua  called  for  them,  and  he  spake  unto 
them,  saying.  Wherefore  have  ye  beguiled  us,  say- 
ing. We  are  very  far  from  you;  when  ye  dwell 
among  us?  Now  therefore  ye  are  cursed,  and 
there  shall  none  of  you  be  freed  from  being  bond- 
men, and  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water 
for  the  house  of  my  God. 

And  they  answered  Joshua,  and  said.  Because 
143 


BIBLE  STORIES 

it  was  certainly  told  thy  servants,  how  that  the 
Lord  thy  God  commanded  his  servant  Moses  to 
give  you  all  the  land,  and  to  destroy  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  land  from  before  you,  therefore 
we  were  sore  afraid  of  our  lives  because  of  you, 
and  have  done  this  thing.  And  now,  behold,  we 
are  in  thine  hand:  as  it  seemeth  good  and  right 
unto  thee  to  do  unto  us,  do. 

And  so  did  he  unto  them,  and  delivered  them 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  children  of  Israel,  that  they 
slew  them  not.  And  Joshua  made  them  that  day 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water  for  the  con- 
gregation, and  for  the  altar  of  the  Lord,  even  unto 
this  day,  in  the  place  which  he  should  choose. 

THE  SUN  AND  MOON  STAND  STILL 

(Joshua  X.  1-15) 

Now  it  came  to  pass,  when  Adoni-zedek  king  of 
Jerusalem  had  heard  how  Joshua  had  taken  Ai, 
and  had  utterly  destroyed  it;  as  he  had  done  to 
Jericho  and  her  king,  so  he  had  done  to  Ai  and 
her  king";  and  how  the  inhabitants  of  Gibeon  had 
made  peace  with  Israel,  and  were  among  them; 
that  they  feared  greatly,  because  Gibeon  was  a 
great  city,  as  one  of  the  royal  cities,  and  because 
it  was  greater  than  Ai,  and  all  the  men  thereof 
were  mighty.  Therefore  the  five  kings  of  the 
Amorites,  gathered  themselves  together,  and  went 
up,  they  and  all  their  hosts,  and  encamped  before 
Gibeon,  and  made  war  against  it. 

144 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  the  men  of  Gibeon  sent  unto  Joshua  to  the 
camp  to  Gilgal,  saying,  Slack  not  thy  hand  from 
thy  servants ;  come  up  to  us  quickly,  and  save  us, 
and  help  us :  for  all  the  kings  of  the  Amorites  that 
dwell  in  the  mountains  are  gathered  together 
against  us.  So  Joshua  ascended  from  Gilgal,  he, 
and  all  the  people  of  war  with  him,  and  all  the 
mighty  men  of  valour. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  Fear  them  not : 
for  I  have  delivered  them  into  thine  hand;  there 
shall  not  a  man  of  them  stand  before  thee.  Joshua 
therefore  came  unto  them  suddenly,  and  Avent  up 
from  Gilgal  all  night.  And  the  Lord  discomfited 
them  before  Israel,  and  slew  them  with  a  great 
slaughter  at  Gibeon,  and  chased  them  along  the 
way  that  goeth  up  to  Beth-horon,  and  smote  them 
to  Azekah,  and  unto  Makkedah.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  as  they  fled  from  before  Israel,  and  were 
in  the  going  down  to  Beth-horon,  that  the  Lord 
cast  down  great  stones  from  heaven  upon  them 
unto  Azekah,  and  they  died :  they  ivere  more  which 
died  with  hailstones  than  they  whom  the  children 
of  Israel  slew  with  the  sword. 

Then  spake  Joshua  to  the  Lord  in  the  day  when 
the  Lord  delivered  up  the  Amorites  before  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  and  he  said  in  the  sight  of  Israel, 
Sun,  stand  thou  still  upon  Gibeon;  and  thou. 
Moon,  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon. 

And  the  sun  stood  still,  and  the  moon  stayed, 
until  the  people  had  avenged  themselves  upon  their 
enemies.    Is  not  this  written  in  the  book  of  Jasher  ? 

145 


BIBLE  STORIES 

So  the  sun  stood  still  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  and 
hasted  not  to  go  down  about  a  whole  day.  And 
there  was  no  day  like  that  before  it  or  after  it,  that 
the  Lord  hearkened  unto  the  voice  of  a  man :  for 
the  Lord  fought  for  Israel.  And  Joshua  returned, 
and  all  Israel  with  him,  unto  the  camp  to  Gilgal. 

THE  LEFTHANDED  MAN 

(Judges  iii.  15-30) 

But  when  the  children  of  Israel  cried  unto  the 
'  Lord,  the  Lord  raised  them  up  a  deliverer,  Ehud 
the  son  of  Gera,  a  Benjamite,  a  man  lefthanded: 
and  by  him  the  children  of  Israel  sent  a  present 
unto  Eglon  the  king  of  Moab.  But  Ehud  made 
him  a  dagger  which  had  two  edges,  of  a  cubit 
length ;  and  he  did  gird  it  under  his  raiment  upon 
his  right  thigh.  And  he  brought  the  present  unto 
Eglon  king  of  Moab:  and  Eglon  was  a  very  fat 
man. 

And  when  he  had  made  an  end  to  offer  the  pres- 
ent, he  sent  away  the  people  that  bare  the  present. 
But  he  himself  turned  again  from  the  quarries  that 
were  by  Gilgal,  and  said,  I  have  a  secret  errand 
unto  thee,  0  king:  who  said.  Keep  silence.  And 
all  that  stood  by  him  went  out  from  him.  And 
Ehud  came  unto  him ;  and  he  was  sitting  in  a  sum- 
mer parlour,  which  he  had  for  him.self  alone.  And 
Ehud  said,  I  have  a  message  from  God  unto  thee. 
And  he  arose  out  of  his  seat.  And  Ehud  put  forth 
his  left  hand,  and  took  the  dagger  from  his  right 

146 


BIBLE  STORIES 

thigh,  and  thrust  it  into  his  belly:  and  the  haft 
also  Avent  in  after  the  blade;  and  the  fat  closed 
upon  the  blade,  so  that  he  could  not  draw  the  dag- 
ger out  of  his  belly ;  and  the  dirt  came  out.  Then 
Ehud  went  forth  through  the  porch,  and  shut  the 
doors  of  the  parlour  upon  him,  and  locked  them. 

When  he  was  gone  out,  his  servants  came ;  and 
when  they  saw  that,  behold,  the  doors  of  the  par- 
lour ivere  locked,  they  said.  Surely  he  covereth 
his  feet  in  his  summer  chamber.  And  they  tarried 
till  they  were  ashamed:  and,  behold,  he  opened 
not  the  doors  of  the  parlour ;  therefore  they  took 
a  key,  and  opened  them:  and,  behold,  their  lord 
ivas  fallen  down  dead  on  the  earth. 

And  Ehud  escaped  while  they  tarried,  and 
passed  beyond  the  quarries,  and  escaped  unto 
Seirath.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  come, 
that  he  blew  a  trumpet  in  the  mountain  of  Eph- 
raim,  and  the  children  of  Israel  went  down  with 
him  from  the  mount,  and  he  before  them.  And  he 
said  unto  them.  Follow  after  me :  for  the  Lord 
hath  delivered  your  enemies  the  Moabites  into 
your  hand.  And  they  went  down  after  him,  and 
took  the  fords  of  Jordan  toward  Moab,  and  suf- 
fered not  a  man  to  pass  over.  And  they  slew  of 
Moab  at  that  time  about  ten  thousand  men,  all 
lusty,  and  all  men  of  valour ;  and  there  escaped  not 
a  man.  So  Moab  was  subdued  that  day  under  the 
hand  of  Israel.  And  the  land  had  rest  fourscore 
years. 


147 


BIBLE  STORIES 

JAEL  KILLETH  SISERA 

( Judges  iv.  1-24 ) 

And  the  children  of  Israel  again  did  evil  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord,  when  Ehud  was  dead.  And  the 
Lord  sold  them  into  the  hand  of  Jabin  king  of 
Canaan,  that  reigned  in  Hazor;  the  captain  of 
whose  host  ivas  Sisera,  which  dwelt  in  Harosheth 
of  the  Gentiles.  And  the  children  of  Israel  cried 
unto  the  Lord:  for  he  had  nine  hundred  chariots 
of  iron;  and  twenty  years  he  mightily  oppressed 
the  children  of  Israel. 

And  Deborah,  a  prophetess,  the  wife  of  Lapi- 
doth,  she  judged  Israel  at  that  time.  And  she 
dwelt  under  the  palm  tree  of  Deborah,  between 
Ramah  and  Beth-el  in  mount  Ephraim:  and  the 
children  of  Israel  came  up  to  her  for  judgment. 
And  she  sent  and  called  Barak  the  son  of  Abi- 
noam  out  of  Kedesh-naphtali,  and  said  unto  him. 
Hath  not  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  commanded,  say- 
ing, Go  and  draw  toward  mount  Tabor,  and  take 
with  thee  ten  thousand  men  of  the  children  of 
Naphtali  and  of  the  children  of  Zebulun?  And 
I  will  draw  unto  thee,  to  the  river  Kishon  Sisera, 
the  captain  of  Jabin 's  army,  with  his  chariots  and 
his  multitude;  and  I  will  deliver  him  into  thine 
hand. 

And  Barak  said  unto  her.  If  thou  wilt  go  with 
me,  then  I  will  go:  but  if  thou  wilt  not  go  with 
me,  then  I  will  not  go. 

148 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  she  said,  I  will  surely  go  with  thee:  not- 
withstanding the  journey  that  thou  takest  shall 
not  be  for  thine  honour;  for  the  Lord  shall  sell 
Sisera  into  the  hand  of  a  woman. 

And  Deborah  arose,  nad  went  with  Barak  to 
Kedesh.  And  Barak  called  Zebulun  and  Naphtali 
to  Kedesh ;  and  he  went  up  with  ten  thousand  men 
at  his  feet :  and  Deborah  went  up  with  him. 

Now  Heber  the  Kenite,  which  was  of  the  children 
of  Hobab  the  father  in  law  of  Moses,  had  severed 
himself  from  the  Kenites,  and  pitched  his  tent 
unto  the  plain  of  Zaanaim,  which  is  by  Kedesh. 

And  they  shewed  Sisera  that  Barak  the  son  of 
Abinoam  was  gone  up  to  mount  Tabor.  And 
Sisera  gathered  together  all  his  chariots,  even 
mine  hundred  chariots  of  iron,  and  all  the 
people  that  were  with  him,  from  Harosheth  of  the 
Gentiles  unto  the  river  of  Kishon. 

And  Deborah  said  unto  Barak,  Up ;  for  this  is 
the  day  in  which  the  Lord  hath  delivered  Sisera 
into  thine  hand:  is  not  the  Lord  gone  out  before 
thee  ?  So  Barak  went  down  from  mount  Tabor,  and 
ten  thousand  men  after  him.  And  tlie  Lord  dis- 
comfited Sisera,  and  all  his  chariots,  and  all  his 
host,  with  the  edge  of  the  sword  before  Barak ;  so 
that  Sisera  lighted  down  off  his  chariot,  and  fled 
away  on  his  feet.  But  Barak  pursued  after  the 
chariots,  and  after  the  host,  unto  Harosheth  of  the 
Gentiles :  and  all  the  host  of  Sisera  fell  upon  the 
edge  of  the  sword;  and  there  was  not  a  man  left. 

Howbeit  Sisera  fled  away  on  his  feet  to  the  tent 
149 


BIBLE  STORIES 

of  Jael  the  wife  of  Heber  the  Kenite :  for  there 
was  peace  between  Jabin  the  king  of  Hazor  and 
the  house  of  Heber  the  Kenite.  And  Jael  went 
out  to  meet  Sisera,  and  said  unto  him,  Turn  in,  my 
lord,  turn  in  to  me;  fear  not.  And  when  he  had 
turned  in  unto  her  into  the  tent,  she  covered  him 
with  a  mantle.  And  he  said  unto  her,  Give  me,  I 
pray  thee,  a  little  water  to  drink :  for  I  am  thirsty. 
And  she  opened  a  bottle  of  milk,  and  gave  him 
drink,  and  covered  him.  Again  he  said  unto  her. 
Stand  in  the  door  of  the  tent,  and  it  shall  be,  when 
any  man  doth  come  and  inquire  of  thee,  and  say, 
Is  there  any  man  here?  that  thou  shalt  say,  No. 
Then  Jael  Heber 's  wife  took  a  nail  of  the  tent,  and 
took  a  hammer  in  her  hand,  and  went  softly 
unto  him,  and  smote  the  nail  into  his  temples,  and 
fastened  it  into  the  ground :  for  he  was  fast  asleep 
and  weary.    So  he  died. 

And,  behold,  as  Barak  pursued  Sisera,  Jael 
came  out  to  meet  him,  and  said  unto  him.  Come, 
and  I  will  shew  thee  the  man  whom  thou  seekest. 
And  when  he  came  into  her  tent,  behold,  Sisera 
lay  dead,  and  the  nail  was  in  his  temples. 

So  God  subdued  on  that  day  Jabin  the  king  of 
Canaan  before  the  children  of  Israel.  And  the 
hand  of  the  children  of  Israel  prospered,  and  pre- 
vailed against  Jabin  the  king  of  Canaan,  until  they 
had  destroyed  Jabin  king  of  Canaan. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

GIDEON'S  FLEECE 

(Judges  vi.  36-40) 

And  Gideon  said  unto  God,  If  thou  wilt  save 
Israel  by  mine  hand,  as  thou  hast  said,  behold,  I 
will  put  a  fleece  of  wool  in  the  floor ;  and  if  the  dew 
be  on  the  fleece  only,  and  it  he  dry  upon  all  the 
earth  beside,  then  shall  I  know  that  thou  wilt  save 
Israel  by  mine  hand,  as  thou  hast  said.  And  it 
was  so :  for  he  rose  up  early  on  the  morrow,  and 
thrust  the  fleece  together,  and  wringed  the  dew 
out  of  the  fleece,  a  bowl  full  of  water. 

And  Gideon  said  unto  God,  Let  not  thine  anger 
be  hot  against  me,  and  I  will  speak  but  this  once : 
let  me  prove,  I  pray  thee,  but  this  once  with  the 
fleece ;  let  it  now  be  dry  only  upon  the  fleece,  and 
upon  all  the  ground  let  there  be  dew.  And  God 
did  so  that  night:  for  it  was  dry  upon  the  fleece 
only,  and  there  was  dew  on  all  the  ground. 

GIDEON'S  THREE  HUNDRED  MEN 

(Judges  vii.  2-22) 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Gideon,  The  people  that 
are  with  thee  are  too  many  for  me  to  give  the 
Midianites  into  their  hands,  lest  Israel  vaunt 
themselves  against  me,  saying.  Mine  own  hand 
hath  saved  me.  Now  therefore  go  to,  proclaim  in 
the  ears  of  the  people,  saying.  Whosoever  is  fear- 
ful and  afraid,  let  him  return  and  depart  early 

151 


BIBLE   STORIES 

from  mount  Gilead.  And  there  returned  of  the 
people  twenty  and  two  thousand;  and  there  re- 
mained ten  thousand. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  Gideon,  The  people  are 
yet  too  many;  bring  them  down  unto  the  water, 
and  I  will  try  them  for  thee  there :  and  it  shall  be, 
that  of  whom  I  say  unto  thee,  This  shall  go  with 
thee,  the  same  shall  go  with  thee;  and  of  whom- 
soever I  say  unto  thee,  This  shall  not  go  with 
thee,  the  same  shall  not  go.  So  he  brought  down 
the  people  unto  the  water :  and  the  Lord  said  unto 
Gideon,  Every  one  that  lappeth  of  the  water  with 
his  tongue,  as  a  dog  lappeth,  him  shalt  thou  set 
by  himself;  likewise  every  one  that  boweth  down 
upon  his  knees  to  drink.  And  the  number  of  them 
that  lapped,  putting  their  hand  to  their  mouth, 
were  three  hundred  men:  but  all  the  rest  of  the 
people  bowed  down  upon  their  knees  to  drink 
water.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Gideon,  By  the 
three  hundred  men  that  lapped  will  I  save  you,  and 
deliver  the  Midianites  into  thine  hand :  and  let  all 
the  other  people  go  every  man  unto  his  place. 

So  the  people  took  victuals  in  their  hand,  and 
their  trumpets :  and  he  sent  all  the  rest  of  Israel 
every  man  unto  his  tent,  and  retained  those  three 
hundred  men :  and  the  host  of  Midian  was  beneath 
him  in  the  valley. 

And  it  came  to  pass  the  same  night,  that  the 
Lord  said  unto  him.  Arise,  get  thee  down  unto 
the  host;  for  I  have  delivered  it  into  thine  hand. 
But  if  thou  fear  to  go  down,  go  thou  with  Phurah 

152 


BIBLE  STORIES 

thy  servant  down  to  the  host :  and  thou  shalt  hear 
what  they  say;  and  afterward  shall  thine  hands 
be  strengthened  to  go  down  unto  the  host.  Then 
went  he  down  with  Phurah  his  servant  unto  the 
outside  of  the  armed  men  that  were  in  the  host. 

And  the  Midianites  and  the  Amalekites  and  all 
the  children  of  the  east  lay  along  in  the  valley  like 
grasshoppers  for  multitude ;  and  their  camels  were 
without  number,  as  the  sand  by  the  sea  side  for 
multitude.  And  when  Gideon  was  come,  behold, 
there  ivas  a  man  that  told  a  dream  unto  his  fellow, 
and  said,  Behold,  I  dreamed  a  dream,  and,  lo,  a 
cake  of  barley  bread  tumbled  into  the  host  of 
Midian,  and  came  unto  a  tent,  and  smote  it  that  it 
fell,  and  overturned  it,  that  the  tent  lay  along. 

And  his  fellow  answered  and  said.  This  is  noth- 
ing else  save  the  sword  of  Gideon  the  son  of  Joash, 
a  man  of  Israel:  for  into  his  hand  hath  God  de- 
livered Midian,  and  all  the  host. 

And  it  was  so,  when  Gideon  heard  the  telling  of 
the  dream,  and  the  interpretation  thereof,  that  he 
worshipped,  and  returned  into  the  host  of  Israel, 
and  said.  Arise ;  for  the  Lord  hath  delivered  into 
your  hand  the  host  of  Midian. 

Ajid  he  divided  the  three  hundred  men  into  three 
companies,  and  he  put  a  trumpet  in  every  man's 
hand,  with  empty  pitchers,  and  lamps  within  the 
pitchers.  And  he  said  unto  them.  Look  on  me, 
and  do  likewise :  and,  behold,  when  I  come  to  the 
outside  of  the  camp,  it  shall  be  that,  as  I  do,  so 
shall  ye  do.    When  I  blow  with  a  trumpet,  I  and 

153 


BIBLE  STORIES 

all  that  are  with  me,  then  blow  ye  the  trumpets 
also  on  every  side  of  all  the  camp,  and  say.  The 
sword  of  the  Lord,  and  of  Gideon. 

So  Gideon,  and  the  hundred  men  that  ivere  with 
him,  came  unto  the  outside  of  the  camp  in  the 
beginning  of  the  middle  watch;  and  they  had  but 
newly  set  the  watch :  and  they  blew  the  trumpets, 
and  brake  the  pitchers  that  were  in  their  hands. 
And  the  three  companies  blew  the  trumpets,  and 
brake  the  pitchers,  and  held  the  lamps  in  their  left 
hands,  and  the  trumpets  in  their  right  hands  to 
blow  withal:  and  they  cried.  The  sword  of  the 
Lord,  and  of  Gideon.  And  they  stood  every  man 
in  his  place  round  about  the  camp :  and  all  the  host 
ran,  and  cried,  and  fled.  And  the  three  hundred 
blew  the  trumpets,  and  the  Lord  set  every  man's 
sword  against  his  fellow,  even  throughout  all  the 
host:  and  the  host  fled. 

THE  TREES  CHOOSE  A  KING 

(Judges  ix.  8-15) 

The  trees  went  forth  on  a  time  to  anoint  a  king 
over  them ;  and  they  said  unto  the  olive  tree.  Reign 
thou  over  us.  But  the  olive  tree  said  unto  them. 
Should  I  leave  my  fatness,  wherewith  by  me  they 
honour  God  and  man,  and  go  to  be  promoted  over 
the  trees  ?  And  the  trees  said  to  the  fig  tree.  Come 
thou,  and  reign  over  us.  But  the  fig  tree  said  unto 
them,  Should  I  forsake  my  sweetness,  and  my  good 
fruit,  and  go  to  be  promoted  over  the  trees  f    Then 

154 


BIBLE  STORIES 

said  the  trees  unto  the  vine,  Come  thou,  and  reign 
over  us.  And  the  vine  said  unto  them.  Should  I 
leave  my  wine,  which  cheereth  God  and  man,  and 
go  to  be  promoted  over  the  trees?  Then  said  all 
the  trees  unto  the  bramble,  Come  thou,  and  reign 
over  us.  And  the  bramble  said  unto  the  trees.  If 
in  truth  ye  anoint  me  king  over  you,  then  come 
and  put  your  trust  in  my  shadow ;  and  if  not,  let 
fire  come  out  of  the  bramble,  and  devour  the 
cedars  of  Lebanon. 

JEPHTHAH'S  RASH  VOW 

( Judges  xi.  29-40 ) 

Then  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon  Jeph- 
thah,  and  he  passed  over  Gilead,  and  Manasseh, 
and  passed  over  Mizpeh  of  Gilead,  and  from 
Mizpeh  of  Gilead  he  passed  over  unto  the  children 
of  Ammon. 

And  Jephthah  vowed  a  vow  unto  the  Lord,  and 
said.  If  thou  shalt  without  fail  deliver  the  children 
of  Ammon  into  mine  hands,  then  it  shall  be,  that 
whatsoever  cometh  forth  of  the  doors  of  my  house 
to  meet  me,  when  I  return  in  peace  from  the  chil- 
dren of  Ammon,  shall  surely  be  the  Lord  's,  and  I 
will  offer  it  up  for  a  burnt  offering. 

So  Jeplitliah  passed  over  unto  the  children  of 
Ammon  to  fight  against  them ;  and  the  Lord  deliv- 
ered them  into  his  hands.  And  he  smote  them 
from  Aroer,  even  till  thou  come  to  Minnith,  even 
twenty  cities,  and  unto  the  plain  of  the  vineyards, 

155 


BIBLE  STORIES 

with  a  very  great  slaughter.  Thus  the  children  of 
Ammon  were  subdued  before  the  children  of 
Israel. 

And  Jephthah  came  to  Mizpeh  unto  his  house, 
and,  behold,  his  daughter  came  out  to  meet  him 
with  timbrels  and  with  dances :  and  she  was  his 
only  child;  beside  her  he  had  neither  son  nor 
daughter.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  saw  her, 
that  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  said,  Alas,  my  daugh- 
ter !  thou  hast  brought  me  very  low,  and  thou  art 
one  of  them  that  trouble  me :  for  I  have  opened  my 
mouth  unto  the  Lokd,  and  I  cannot  go  back. 

And  she  said  unto  him,  My  father,  if  thou  hast 
opened  thy  mouth  unto  the  Lord,  do  to  me  accord- 
ing to  that  which  hath  proceeded  out  of  thy  mouth ; 
forasmuch  as  the  Lord  hath  taken  vengeance  for 
thee  of  thine  enemies,  even  of  the  children  of  Am- 
mon. 

And  she  said  unto  her  father.  Let  this  thing  be 
done  for  me :  let  me  alone  two  months,  that  I  may 
go  up  and  down  upon  the  mountains,  and  bewail 
my  virginity,  I  and  my  fellows.  And  he  said.  Go. 
And  he  sent  her  away  for  two  months:  and  she 
went  with  her  companions,  and  bewailed  her  vir- 
ginity upon  the  mountains. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  two  months, 
that  she  returned  unto  her  father,  who  did  with 
her  according  to  his  vow  which  he  had  vowed. 

And  it  was  a  custom  in  Israel,  that  the  daugh- 
ters of  Israel  went  3^early  to  lament  the  daughter 
of  Jephthah  the  Gileadite  four  days  in  a  year. 

156 


BIBLE  STORIES 

AN  ANGEL  COMES  TO  SAMSON'S  PARENTS 

(Judges  xiii.  8-24) 

Then  Manoah  entreated  the  Lord,  and  said,  0 
my  Lord,  let  the  man  of  God  which  thou  didst  send 
come  again  unto  us,  and  teach  us  what  we  shall 
do  unto  the  child  that  shall  be  born. 

And  God  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  Manoah; 
and  the  angel  of  God  came  again  unto  the  woman 
as  she  sat  in  the  field:  but  Manoah  her  husband 
ivas  not  with  her.  And  the  woman  made  haste, 
and  ran,  and  shewed  her  husband,  and  said  unto 
him.  Behold,  the  man  hath  appeared  unto  me,  that 
came  unto  me  the  other  day. 

And  Manoah  arose,  and  went  after  his  wife,  and 
came  to  the  man,  and  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  the 
man  that  spakest  unto  the  woman?  And  he  said, 
I  am.  And  Manoah  said.  Now  let  thy  words  come 
to  pass.  How  shall  we  order  the  child,  and  Jiow 
shall  we  do  unto  him? 

And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  Manoah,  Of 
all  that  I  said  unto  the  woman  let  her  beware.  She 
may  not  eat  of  any  thing  that  cometh  of  the  vine, 
neither  let  her  drink  wine  or  strong  drink,  nor  eat 
any  unclean  thing:  all  that  I  commanded  her  let 
her  observe. 

And  Manoah  said  unto  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  I 
pray  thee,  let  us  detain  thee,  until  we  shall  have 
made  ready  a  kid  for  thee. 

And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  Manoah, 
157 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Though  thou  detain  me,  I  ^  ill  not  eat  of  thy  bread : 
and  if  thou  wilt  offer  a  bn    it  offering,  thou  must 


Fig.  16. — Manoah's  Sacrifice. 
Rembrandt.    Dresden  Gallery. 

offer  it  unto  the  Lord.  For  Manoah  knew  not  that 
he  ivas  an  angel  of  the  Lord. 

And  Manoah  said  unto  the  angel  of  the  Lord, 
What  is  thy  name,  that  when  thy  sayings  come  to 
pass  we  may  do  thee  honour? 

And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Why 
askest  thou  thus  after  my  name,  seeing  it  is  secret? 

So  Manoah  took  a  kid  with  a  meat  offering,  and 
offered  it  upon  a  rock  unto  the  Lord  :  and  the  angel 

158 


BIBLE  STORIES 

did  wondrously ;  and  Maiioali  and  his  wife  looked 
on.  For  it  came  to  pa.  '  when  the  flame  went  up 
toward  heaven  from  off  ,..ie  altar,  that  the  angel  of 
the  Lord  ascended  in  th©-  flame  of  the  altar.  And 
Manoah  and  his  wife  looked  on  it,  and  fell  on  their 
faces  to  the  ground.  But  the  angel  of  the  Loed  did 
no  more  appear  to  Manoah  and  to  his  wife.  Then 
Manoah  knew  that  he  was  an  angel  of  the  Lord. 

And  Manoah  said  unto  his  wife,  We  shall  surely 
die,  because  we  have  seen  God. 

But  his  wife  said  unto  him,  If  the  Lord  were 
pleased  to  kill  us,  he  would  not  have  received  a 
burnt  offering  and  a  meat  offering  at  our  hands, 
neither  would  he  have  shewed  us  all  these  things, 
nor  would  as  at  this  time  have  told  us  such  things 
as  these. 

And  the  woman  bare  a  son,  and  called  his  name 
Samson :  and  the  child  grew,  and  the  Lord  blessed 
him. 

SAMSON'S  MARRIAGE  AND  RIDDLE 

(Judges  xiv.  5-19) 

Then  went  Samson  down,  and  his  father  and  his 
mother,  to  Timnath,  and  came  to  the  vineyards  of 
Timnath :  and,  behold,  a  young  lion  roared  against 
him.  And  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  mightily 
upon  him,  and  he  rent  him  as  he  would  have  rent 
a  kid,  and  he  had  nothing  in  his  hand:  but  he  told 
not  his  father  or  his  mother  what  he  had  done. 

And  he  went  down,  and  talked  with  the  woman ; 
159 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  she  pleased  Samson  well.  And  after  a  time  he 
returned  to  take  her,  and  he  turned  aside  to  see 
the  carcass  of  the  lion:  and,  behold,  there  was  a 
swarm  of  bees  and  honey  in  the  carcass  of  the 
lion.  And  he  took  thereof  in  his  hands,  and  went 
on  eating,  and  came  to  his  father  and  mother,  and 
he  gave  them,  and  they  did  eat :  but  he  told  not 
them  that  he  had  taken  the  honey  out  of  the  car- 
cass of  the  lion. 

So  his  father  went  down  unto  the  woman:  and 
Samson  made  there  a  feast ;  for  so  used  the  young 
men  to  do.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  saw 
him,  that  they  brought  thirty  companions  to  be 
with  him.  And  Samson  said  unto  them,  I  will  now 
put  forth  a  riddle  unto  you:  if  ye  can  certainly 
declare  it  me  within  the  seven  days  of  the  feast, 
and  find  it  out,  then  I  will  give  you  thirty  sheets 
and  thirty  change  of  garments :  but  if  ye  can- 
not declare  it  me,  then  shall  ye  give  me  thirty 
sheets  and  thirty  change  of  garments. 

And  they  said  unto  him,  Put  forth  thy  riddle, 
that  we  may  hear  it. 

And  he  said  unto  them, 

Out  of  the  eater  came  forth  meat. 

And  out  of  the  strong  came  forth  sweetness. 

And  they  could  not  in  three  days  expound  the 
riddle.  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day, 
that  they  said  unto  Samson's  wife,  Entice  thy 
husband,  that  he  may  declare  unto  us  the  riddle, 
lest  we  burn  thee  and  thy  father's  house  with  fire : 

160 


BIBLE  STORIES 

have  ye  called  us  to  take  that  we  have?  is  it  not  sof 
And  Samson's  wife  wept  before  him,  and  said, 
Thou  dost  but  hate  me,  and  lovest  me  not:  thou 
hast  put  forth  a  riddle  unto  the  children  of  my 
people,  and  hast  not  told  if  me.  And  he  said  unto 
her.  Behold,  I  have  not  told  it  my  father  and  my 
mother,  and  shall  I  tell  it  thee?  And  she  wept 
before  him  the  seven  days,  while  their  feast 
lasted:  and  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day, 
that  he  told  her,  because  she  lay  sore  upon  him: 
and  she  told  the  riddle  to  the  children  of  her 
people. 

And  the  men  of  the  city  said  unto  him  on  the 
seventh  day  before  the  sun  went  down, 

What  is  sweeter  than  honey? 

And  what  is  stronger  than  a  lion? 

And  he  said  unto  them,  If  ye  had  not  ploughed 
with  my  heifer,  ye  had  not  found  out  my  riddle. 

And  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him,  and 
he  went  down  to  Ashkelon,  and  slew  thirty  men 
of  them,  and  took  their  spoil,  and  gave  change  of 
garments  unto  them  which  expounded  the  riddle. 

And  his  anger  was  kindled,  and  he  went  up  to 
his  father's  house. 


BIBLE   STORIES 

SAMSON'S  REVENGE  ON  THE 
PHILISTINES 

(Judges  XV.  3-20;  xvi.  1-3) 

And  Samson  said  concerning;  them,  Now  shall  I 
be  more  blameless  than  the  Philistines,  though  I 
do  them  a  displeasure.  And  Samson  went  and 
caught  three  hundred  foxes,  and  took  firebrands, 
and  turned  tail  to  tail,  and  put  a  firebrand  in  the 
midst  between  two  tails.  And  when  he  had  set  the 
brands  on  fire,  he  let  them  go  into  the  standing 
corn  of  the  Philistines,  and  burnt  up  both  the 
shocks,  and  also  the  standing  corn,  with  the  vine- 
yards and  olives. 

Then  the  Philistines  said,  Who  hath  done  this? 
And  they  answered,  Samson,  the  son  in  law  of  the 
Timnite,  because  he  had  taken  his  wife,  and  given 
her  to  his  companion.  And  the  Philistines  came 
up,  and  burnt  her  and  her  father  with  fire. 

And  Samson  said  unto  them.  Though  ye  have 
done  this,  yet  will  I  be  avenged  of  you,  and  after 
that  I  will  cease.  And  he  smote  them  hip  and 
thigh  with  a  great  slaughter:  and  he  went  down 
and  dwelt  in  the  top  of  the  rock  Etam. 

Then  the  Philistines  went  up,  and  pitched  in 
Judah,  and  spread  themselves  in  Lehi.  And  the 
men  of  Judah  said.  Why  are  ye  come  up  against 
us?  And  they  answered.  To  bind  Samson  are  we 
come  up,  to  do  to  him  as  he  hath  done  to  us. 

Then  three  thousand  men  of  Judah  went  to  the 
top  of  the  rock  Etam,  and  said  to  Samson,  Know- 

162 


BIBLE  STORIES 

est  thou  not  that  the  Philistines  are  rulers  over 
us  ?  what  is  this  that  thou  hast  done  unto  us  ?  And 
he  said  unto  them,  As  they  did  unto  me,  so  have  I 
done  unto  them :  And  they  said  unto  him,  "We  are 
come  down  to  bind  thee,  that  we  may  deliver  thee 
into  the  hand  of  the  Philistines.  And  Samson 
said  unto  them.  Swear  unto  me,  that  ye  will  not 
fall  upon  me  yourselves.  And  they  spake  unto 
him,  saying',  No;  but  we  will  bind  thee  fast,  and 
deliver  thee  into  their  hand :  but  surely  we  will  not 
kill  thee.  And  they  bound  him  with  two  new 
cords,  and  brought  him  up  from  the  rock. 

And  when  he  came  unto  Lehi,  the  Philistines 
shouted  against  him:  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
came  mightily  upon  him,  and  the  cords  that  tvere 
upon  his  arms  became  as  flax  that  was  burnt  with 
fire,  and  his  bands  loosed  from  off  his  hands.  And 
he  found  a  new  jaw-bone  of  an  ass,  and  put  forth 
his  hand,  and  took  it,  and  slew  a  thousand  men 
therewith.    And  Samson  said. 

With  the  jawbone  of  an  ass, 
Heaps  upon  heaps, 
With  the  jaw  of  an  ass 
Have  I  slain  a  thousand  men. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  had  made  an  end 
of  speaking,  that  he  cast  away  the  jawbone  out  of 
his  hand,  and  called  that  place  Ramath-lehi. 

And  he  was  sore  athirst,  and  called  on  the  Lord, 
and  said.  Thou  hast  given  this  great  deliverance 
into  the  hand  of  thy  servant :  and  now  shall  I  die 

163 


BIBLE  STORIES 

for  thirst,  and  fall  into  the  hand  of  the  uncircum- 
cised?  But  God  clave  a  hollow  place  that  ivas  in 
the  jaw,  and  there  came  water  thereout ;  and  when 
he  had  drunk,  his  spirit  came  again,  and  he  re- 
vived :  wherefore  he  called  the  name  thereof  En- 
hak-kore,  which  is  in  Lehi  unto  this  day. 

And  he  judged  Israel  in  the  days  of  the  Phil- 
istines twenty  years. 

Then  went  Samson  to  Gaza. 

And  it  tvas  told  the  Gazites,  saying,  Samson  is 
come  hither.  And  they  compassed  him  in,  and 
laid  wait  for  him  all  night  in  the  gate  of  the  city, 
and  were  quiet  all  the  night,  saying,  In  the  morn- 
ing, when  it  is  day,  we  shall  kill  him.  And  Samson 
lay  till  midnight,  and  arose  at  midnight,  and  took 
the  doors  of  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  the  two  posts, 
and  went  away  with  them,  bar  and  all,  and  put 
them  upon  his  shoulders,  and  carried  them  up  to 
the  top  of  a  hill  that  is  before  Hebron. 

DELILAH  BETRAYETH  SAMSON 

(Judges  xvi.  4-31 ) 

And  it  came  to  pass  afterward,  that  he  loved 
a  woman  in  the  valley  of  Sorek,  whose  name  was 
Delilah.  And  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  came 
up  unto  her,  and  said  unto  her,  Entice  him,  and 
see  wherein  his  great  strength  lieth,  and  by  what 
means  we  may  prevail  against  him,  that  we  may 
bind  him  to  afflict  him :  and  we  will  give  thee  every 
one  of  us  eleven  hundred  pieces  of  silver. 

164 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  Delilah  said  to  Samson,  Tell  me,  I  pray 
thee,  wherein  thy  great  strength  lieth,  and  where- 
with thou  mightest  be  bound  to  afflict  thee.  And 
Samson  said  unto  her.  If  they  bind  me  with  seven 
green  withs  that  were  never  dried,  then  shall  I 
be  weak,  and  be  as  another  man.  Then  the  lords 
of  the  Philistines  brought  up  to  her  seven  green 
withs  which  had  not  been  dried,  and  she  bound 
him  with  them.  Now  there  were  men  lying  in 
wait,  abiding  with  her  in  the  chamber.  And  she 
said  unto  him,  The  Philistines  he  upon  thee,  Sam- 
son. And  he  brake  the  withs,  as  a  thread  of  tow 
is  broken  when  it  toucheth  the  fire.  So  his 
strength  was  not  known. 

And  Delilah  said  unto  Samson,  Behold,  thou 
hast  mocked  me,  and  told  me  lies :  now  tell  me,  I 
pray  thee,  wherewith  thou  mightest  be  bound. 
And  he  said  unto  her,  If  they  bind  me  fast  with 
new  ropes  that  never  were  occupied,  then  shall  I  be 
weak,  and  be  as  another  man.  Delilah  therefore 
took  new  ropes,  and  bound  him  therewith,  and 
said  unto  him.  The  Philistines  he  upon  thee,  Sam- 
son. And  there  were  liers  in  wait  abiding  in  the 
chamber.  And  he  brake  them  from  off  his  arms 
like  a  thread. 

And  Delilah  said  unto  Samson,  Hitherto  thou 
hast  mocked  me,  and  told  me  lies :  tell  me  where- 
with thou  mightest  be  bound.  And  he  said  unto 
her.  If  thou  weavest  the  seven  locks  of  my  head 
with  the  web.  And  she  fastened  it  with  the  pin, 
and  said  unto  him.  The  Philistines  he  upon  thee, 

165 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Samson.  And  lie  awaked  out  of  his  sleep,  and 
went  away  with  the  pin  of  the  beam,  and  with 
the  web. 

And  she  said  unto  him,  How  canst  thou  say,  I 
love  thee,  when  thine  heart  is  not  with  me  I  thou 
hast  mocked  me  these  three  times,  and  hast  not 
told  me  wherein  thy  great  strength  lieth.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  when  she  pressed  him  daily  with 
her  words,  and  urged  him,  so  that  his  soul  was 
vexed  unto  death;  that  he  told  her  all  his  heart, 
and  said  unto  her,  There  hath  not  come  a  razor 
upon  mine  head;  for  I  have  been  a  Naz- 
arite  unto  God  from  my  mother 's  womb :  if  I  be 
shaven,  then  my  strength  will  go  from  me,  and 
I  shall  become  weak,  and  be  like  any  other 
man. 

And  when  Delilah  saw  that  he  had  told  her  all 
his  heart,  she  sent  and  called  for  the  lords  of  the 
Philistines,  saying.  Come  up  this  once,  for  he  hath 
shewed  me  all  his  heart.  Then  the  lords  of  the 
Philistines  came  up  unto  her,  and  brought  money 
in  their  hand.  And  she  made  him  sleep  upon  her 
knees;  and  she  called  for  a  man,  and  she  caused 
him  to  shave  off  the  seven  locks  of  his  head ;  and 
she  began  to  afflict  him,  and  his  strength  went 
from  him.  And  she  said.  The  Philistines  be  upon 
thee,  Samson.  And  he  awoke  out  of  his  sleep, 
and  said,  I  will  go  out  as  at  other  times  before, 
and  shake  myself.  And  he  wist  not  that  the  Loed 
was  departed  from  him.  But  the  Philistines  took 
him,  and  put  out  his  eyes,  and  brought  him  down 

166 


BIBLE  STORIES 

to  Gaza,  and  bound  him  with  fetters  of  brass; 
and  he  did  grind  in  the  prison  house. 

Howbeit  the  hair  of  his  head  began  to  grow 
again  after  he  was  shaven. 

Then  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  gathered  them 
together  for  to  offer  a  great  sacrifice  unto  Dagon 
their  god,  and  to  rejoice :  for  they  said,  Our  god 
hath  delivered  Samson  our  enemy  into  our  hand. 
And  when  the  people  saw  him,  they  praised  their 
god:  for  they  said.  Our  god  hath  delivered  into 
our  hands  our  enemy,  and  the  destroyer  of  our 
country,  which  slew  many  of  us. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  their  hearts  were 
merry,  that  they  said.  Call  for  Samson,  that  he 
may  make  us  sport.  And  they  called  for  Samson 
out  of  the  prison  house ;  and  he  made  them  sport : 
and  they  set  him  between  the  pillars. 

And  Samson  said  unto  the  lad  that  held  him  by 
the  hand.  Suffer  me  that  I  may  feel  the  pillars 
whereupon  the  house  standeth,  that  I  may  lean 
upon  them.  Now  the  house  was  full  of  men  and 
women;  and  all  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  were 
there;  and  there  were  upon  the  roof  about  three 
thousand  men  and  women,  that  beheld  while  Sam- 
son made  sport.  And  Samson  called  unto  the 
Lord,  and  said,  0  Lord  God,  remember  me,  I  pray 
thee,  and  strengthen  me,  I  pray  thee,  only  this 
once,  0  God,  that  I  may  be  at  once  avenged  of  the 
Philistines  for  my  two  eyes.  And  Samson  took 
hold  of  the  two  middle  pillars  upon  which  the 
house  stood,  and  on  which  it  was  borne  up,  of  the 

167 


BIBLE  STORIES 

one  with  his  right  hand,  and  of  the  other  with 
his  left.  And  Samson  said,  Let  me  die  with  the 
Philistines.  And  he  bowed  himself  with  all  his 
might;  and  the  house  fell  upon  the  lords,  and 
upon  all  the  people  that  were  therein.  So  the  dead 
which  he  slew  at  his  death  were  more  than  they 
which  he  slew  in  his  life. 

Then  his  brethren  and  all  the  house  of  his 
father  came  down,  and  took  him,  and  brought  him 
up,  and  buried  him  between  Zorah  and  Eshtaol  in 
the  buryingplace  of  Manoah  his  father.  And  he 
judged  Israel  twenty  years. 

THE  STOLEN  WIVES 

(Judges  xxi.  1-25) 

Now  the  men  of  Israel  had  sworn  in  Mizpeh,  say- 
ing. There  shall  not  any  of  us  give  his  daughter 
unto  Benjamin  to  wife.  And  the  people  came  to 
the  house  of  God,  and  abode  there  till  even  before 
God,  and  lifted  up  their  voices,  and  wept 
sore ;  and  said,  0  Lord  God  of  Israel,  why  is  this 
come  to  pass  in  Israel,  that  there  should  be  to  day 
one  tribe  lacking  in  Israel? 

And  the  children  of  Israel  repented  them  for 
Benjamin  their  brother,  and  said,  There  is  one 
tribe  cut  off  from  Israel  this  day.  How  shall  we 
do  for  wives  for  them  that  remain,  seeing  we 
have  sworn  by  the  Lord,  that  we  will  not  give 
them  of  our  daughters  to  wives'? 

And  the  people  repented  them  for  Benjamin, 
168 


BIBLE  STORIES 

because  that  the  Lord  had  made  a  breach  in  the 
tribes  of  Israel. 

Then  the  elders  of  the  congregation  said,  How 
shall  we  do  for  wives  for  them  that  remain,  see- 
ing the  women  are  destroyed  out  of  Benjamin? 
And  they  said.  There  must  he  mi  inheritance  for 
them  that  be  escaped  of  Benjamin,  that  a  tribe 
be  not  destroyed  out  of  Israel.  Howbeit  we  may 
not  give  them  wives  of  our  daughters :  for  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  have  sworn,  saying,  Cursed  he  he 
that  giveth  a  wife  to  Benjamin. 

Then  they  said.  Behold,  there  is  a  feast  of  the 
Lord  in  Shiloh  yearly,  in  a  place  which  is  on  the 
north  side  of  Bethel,  on  the  east  side  of  the  high- 
way that  goeth  up  from  Bethel  to  Shechem,  and 
on  the  south  of  Lebonah.  Therefore  they  com- 
manded the  children  of  Benjamin,  saying.  Go  and 
lie  in  wait  in  the  vineyards ;  and  see,  and,  behold, 
if  the  daughters  of  Shiloh  come  out  to  dance  in 
dances,  then  come  ye  out  of  the  vineyards,  and 
catch  you  every  man  his  wife  of  the  daughters  of 
Shiloh,  and  go  to  the  land  of  Benjamin.  And  it 
shall  be,  when  their  fathers  or  their  brethren  come 
unto  us  to  complain,  that  we  will  say  unto  them, 
Be  favourable  unto  them  for  our  sakes :  because 
we  reserved  not  to  each  man  his  wife  in  the  war : 
for  ye  did  not  give  unto  them  at  this  time,  that 
ye  should  be  guilty. 

And  the  children  of  Benjamin  did  so,  and  took 
them  wives,  according  to  their  number,  of  them 
that  danced,  whom  they  caught :  and  they  went  and 

169 


BIBLE  STORIES 

returned  unto  their  inheritance,  and  repaired  the 
cities,  and  dwelt  in  them.  And  the  children  of 
Israel  departed  thence  at  that  time,  every  man  to 
his  tribe  and  to  his  family,  and  they  went  out  from 
thence  every  man  to  his  inheritance. 

In  those  days  there  ivas  no  king  in  Israel:  every 
man  did  that  which  was  right  in  his  own  eyes. 

RUTH 

(Ruthi.-iv.) 

Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  when  the 
judges  ruled,  that  there  was  a  famine  in  the  land. 
And  a  certain  man  of  Beth-lehem-judah  went  to 
sojourn  in  the  country  of  Moab,  he,  and  his  wife, 
and  his  two  sons.  And  the  name  of  the  man  ivas 
Elimelech,  and  the  name  of  his  wife  Naomi,  and 
the  name  of  his  two  sons  Mahlon  and  Chilion, 
Ephrathites  of  Beth-lehem-judah.  And  they  came 
into  the  country  of  Moab,  and  continued  there. 

And  Elimelech  Naomi 's  husband  died ;  and  she 
was  left,  and  her  two  sons.  And  the^^  took  them 
wives  of  the  women  of  Moab ;  the  name  of  the  one 
was  Orpah,  and  the  name  of  the  other  Ruth :  and 
they  dwelled  there  about  ten  years.  And  Mahlon 
and  Chilion  died  also  both  of  them ;  and  the  woman 
was  left  of  her  two  sons  and  her  husband. 

Then  she  arose  with  her  daughters  in  law,  that 
she  might  return  from  the  country  of  Moab:  for 
she  had  heard  in  the  country  of  Moab  how  that  the 
Lord  had  visited  his  people  in  giving  them  bread. 
Wherefore  she  went  forth  out  of  the  place  where 

170 


BIBLE  STORIES 

she  was,  and  her  two  daughters  in  law  with  her; 
and  they  went  on  the  way  to  return  unto  the  land 
of  Judah. 

And  Naomi  said  unto  her  two  daughters  in  law, 
Go,  return  each  to  her  mother 's  house :  the  Loed 
deal  kindly  with  you,  as  ye  have  dealt  with  the 
dead,  and  with  me.  The  Lord  grant  you  that  ye 
may  find  rest,  each  of  you  in  the  house  of  her  hus- 
band. Then  she  kissed  them;  and  they  lifted  up 
their  voice,  and  wept. 

And  they  said  unto  her.  Surely  we  will  return 
with  thee  unto  thy  people. 

And  Naomi  said,  Turn  again,  my  daughters: 
why  will  ye  go  with  me  I 

And  they  lifted  up  their  voice,  and  wept  again : 
and  Orpah  kissed  her  mother  in  law;  but  Ruth 
clave  unto  her. 

Ruth  Goes  with  Naomi,  Her  Mother  iisr  Law 

And  she  said.  Behold,  thy  sister  in  law  is  gone 
back  unto  her  people,  and  unto  her  gods :  return 
thou  after  thy  sister  in  law. 

And  Ruth  said,  Intreat  me  not  to  leave  thee,  or 
to  return  from  following  after  thee :  for  whither 
thou  goest,  I  will  go;  and  where  thou  lodgest,  I 
will  lodge :  thy  people  shall  he  my  people,  and  thy 
God  my  God :  where  thou  diest,  will  I  die,  and  there 
will  I  be  buried:  the  Lord  do  so  to  me,  and  more 
also,  if  ought  but  death  part  thee  and  me. 

Wlien  she  saw  that  she  was  stedfastly  minded 
to  go  with  her,  then  she  left  speaking  unto  her. 

171 


BIBLE  STORIES 

So  they  two  went  until  they  came  to  Beth-lehem. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were  come  to  Beth- 
lehem, that  all  the  city  was  moved  about  them, 
and  they  said.  Is  thi.i  Naomi?  And  she  said  unto 
them,  Call  me  not  Naomi,  call  me  Mara:  for  the 
Almighty  hath  dealt  very  bitterly  with  me.  I  went 
out  full,  and  the  Lord  hath  brought  me  home  again 
empty:  why  then  call  ye  me  Naomi,  seeing  the 
Lord  hath  testified  against  me,  and  the  Almighty 
hath  afflicted  me? 

So  Naomi  returned,  and  Ruth  the  Moabitess, 
her  daughter  in  law,  with  her,  which  returned  out 
of  the  country  of  Moab:  and  they  came  to  Beth- 
lehem in  the  beginning  of  barley  harvest. 

Ruth  Gleans  in  the  Field  of  Boaz 
And  Naomi  had  a  kinsman  of  her  husband's, 
a  mighty  man  of  wealth,  of  the  family  of  Elim- 
elech;  and  his  name  ivas  Boaz.  And  Ruth  the 
Moabitess  said  unto  Naomi,  Let  me  now  go  to 
the  field,  and  glean  ears  of  corn  after  him  in  whose 
sight  I  shall  find  grace.  And  she  said  unto  her. 
Go,  my  daughter.  And  she  went,  and  came,  and 
gleaned  in  the  field  after  the  reapers:  and  her 
hap  was  to  light  on  a  part  of  the  field  belonging 
unto  Boaz,  who  tvas  of  the  kindred  of  Elimelech. 
And,  behold,  Boaz  came  from  Beth-lehem,  and 
said  unto  the  reapers,  The  Lord  be  with  you.  And 
they  answered  him.  The  Lord  bless  thee. 

Then  said  Boaz  unto  his  servant  that  was  set 
over  the  reapers.  Whose  damsel  is  this? 

172 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  the  servant  that  was  set  over  the  reapers 
answered  and  said,  It  is  the  Moabitish  damsel  that 
came  back  with  Naomi  out  of  the  country  of  Moab : 
and  she  said,  I  pray  you,  let  me  glean  and  gather 
after  the  reapers  among  the  sheaves :  so  she  came, 
and  hath  continued  even  from  the  morning  until 
now,  that  she  tarried  a  little  in  the  house. 

BoAZ  Speaks  to  Ruth 

Then  said  Boaz  unto  Ruth,  Hearest  thou  not, 
my  daughter?  Go  not  to  glean  in  another  field, 
neither  go  from  hence,  but  abide  here  fast  by  my 
maidens :  let  thine  eyes  he  on  the  field  that  they 
do  reap,  and  go  thou  after  them:  have  I  not 
charged  the  young  men  that  they  shall  not  touch 
thee?  and  when  thou  art  athirst,  go  unto  the  ves- 
sels, and  drink  of  tliat  which  the  young  men  have 
drawn. 

Then  she  fell  on  her  face,  and  bowed  herself 
to  the  ground,  and  said  unto  him,  Why  have  I 
found  grace  in  thine  eyes,  that  thou  shouldest  take 
knowledge  of  me,  seeing  I  am  a  stranger? 

And  Boaz  answered  and  said  unto  her.  It  hath 
fully  been  shewed  me,  all  that  thou  hast  done  unto 
thy  mother  in  law  since  the  death  of  thine  hus- 
band: and  how  thou  hast  left  thy  father  and  thy 
mother,  and  the  land  of  thy  nativity,  and  art  come 
unto  a  people  which  thou  knewest  not  heretofore. 
The  Lord  recompense  thy  work,  and  a  full  reward 
be  given  thee  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  under 
whose  wings  thou  art  come  to  trust, 

173 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Then  she  said,  Let  me  find  favour  in  thy  sight, 
my  lord ;  for  that  thou  hast  comforted  me,  and  for 
that  thou  hast  spoken  friendly  unto  thine  hand- 
maid, though  I  be  not  like  unto  one  of  thine  hand- 
maidens. 

And  Boaz  said  unto  her,  At  mealtime  come  thou 
hither,  and  eat  of  the  bread,  and  dip  thy  morsel 
in  the  vinegar.  And  she  sat  beside  the  reapers: 
and  he  reached  her  parched  corn,  and  she  did 
eat,  and  was  sufficed,  and  left. 

And  when  she  was  risen  up  to  glean,  Boaz  com- 
manded his  young  men,  saying.  Let  her  glean  even 
among  the  sheaves,  and  reproach  her  not:  and 
let  fall  also  some  of  the  handfuls  of  purpose  for 
her,  and  leave  them,  that  she  may  glean  thern,  and 
rebuke  her  not. 

So  she  gleaned  in  the  field  until  even,  and  beat 
out  that  she  had  gleaned:  and  it  was  about  an 
ephah  of  barley.  And  she  took  it  up,  and  went 
into  the  city ;  and  her  mother  in  law  saw  what  she 
had  gleaned :  and  she  brought  forth,  and  gave  to 
her  that  she  had  reserved  after  she  was  sufficed. 

And  her  mother  in  law  said  unto  her.  Where 
hast  thou  gleaned  to  day?  and  where  wroughtest 
thou?  blessed  be  he  that  did  take  knowledge  of 
thee.  And  she  shewed  her  mother  in  law  with 
whom  she  had  wrought,  and  said.  The  man's  name 
with  whom  I  wrought  to  day  is  Boaz. 

And  Naomi  said  unto  her  daughter  in  law, 
Blessed  he  he  of  the  Lord,  who  hath  not  left  off 
his  kindness  to  the  living  and  to  the  dead.     And 

174 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Naomi  said  unto  her,  The  man  is  near  of  kin  unto 
us,  one  of  our  next  kinsmen. 

And  Ruth  the  Moabitess  said.  He  said  unto  me 
also,  Thou  shalt  keep  fast  by  my  young  men,  until 
they  have  ended  all  my  harvest. 

And  Naomi  said  unto  Ruth  her  daughter  in  law. 
It  is  good,  my  daughter,  that  thou  go  out  with  his 
maidens,  that  they  meet  thee  not  in  any  other  field. 

So  she  kept  fast  by  the  maidens  of  Boaz  to  glean 
unto  the  end  of  barley  harvest  and  of  wheat  har- 
vest ;  and  dwelt  with  her  mother  in  law. 

Naomi  Tells  Ruth  What  She  Must  Do 

Then  Naomi  her  mother  in  law  said  unto  her, 
My  daughter,  shall  I  not  seek  rest  for  thee,  that 
it  may  be  well  with  thee?  And  now  is  not  Boaz 
of  our  kindred,  with  whose  maidens  thou  wast? 
Behold,  he  winnoweth  barley  to  night  in  the  thresh- 
ingfloor.  Wash  thyself  therefore,  and  anoint  thee, 
and  put  thy  raiment  upon  thee,  and  get  thee  down 
to  the  floor :  hut  make  not  thyself  known  unto  the 
man,  until  he  shall  have  done  eating  and  drinking. 
And  it  shall  be,  when  he  lieth  down,  that  thou  shalt 
mark  the  place  where  he  shall  lie,  and  thou  shalt 
go  in,  and  uncover  his  feet,  and  lay  thee  down;  and 
he  will  tell  thee  what  thou  shalt  do. 

And  she  said  unto  her.  All  that  thou  sayest  unto 
me  I  will  do.  And  she  went  down  unto  the  floor, 
and  did  according  to  all  that  her  mother  in  law 
bade  her.  And  when  Boaz  had  eaten  and  drunk, 
and  his  heart  was  merr}^,  he  went  to  lie  down  at 

175 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  end  of  the  heap  of  corn :  and  she  came  softly, 
and  uncovered  his  feet,  and  laid  her  do\vn. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  midnight,  that  the  man 
was  afraid,  and  turned  himself:  and,  behold,  a 
woman  lay  at  his  feet.  And  he  said.  Who  art 
thou? 

And  she  answered,  I  am  Ruth  thine  handmaid : 
spread  therefore  thy  skirt  over  thine  handmaid; 
for  thou  art  a  near  kinsman. 

And  he  said.  Blessed  be  thou  of  the  Lord,  my 
daughter :  for  thou  hast  shewed  more  kindness  in 
the  latter  end  than  at  the  beginning,  inasmuch  as 
thou  followedst  not  young  men,  whether  poor  or 
rich.  And  now,  my  daughter,  fear  not ;  I  will  do 
to  thee  all  that  thou  requirest :  for  all  the  city  of 
my  people  doth  know  that  thou  art  a  virtuous 
woman.  And  now  it  is  true  that  I  am  thy  near 
kinsman :  howbeit  there  is  a  kinsman  nearer  than  I. 
Tarry  this  night,  and  it  shall  be  in  the  morning, 
that  if  he  will  perform  unto  thee  the  part  of  a  kins- 
man well;  let  him  do  the  kinsman's  part:  but  if 
he  will  not  do  the  part  of  a  kinsman  to  thee,  then 
will  I  do  the  part  of  a  kinsman  to  thee,  as  the  Lord 
liveth :  lie  down  until  the  morning. 

And  she  lay  at  his  feet  until  the  morning :  and 
she  rose  up  before  one  could  know  another.  And 
he  said.  Let  it  not  be  known  that  a  woman  came 
into  the  floor.  Also  he  said,  Bring  the  vail  that 
thou  hast  upon  thee,  and  hold  it.  And  when  she 
held  it,  he  measured  six  measures  of  barley,  and 
laid  it  on  her :  and  she  went  into  the  city. 

176 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  when  she  came  to  her  mother  in  hiw,  she 
said,  Who  art  thon,  my  daughter?  And  she  told 
her  all  that  the  man  had  done  to  her.  And  she 
said,  These  six  measures  of  barley  gave  he  me ;  for 
he  said  to  me,  Go  not  empty  nnto  thy  mother  in 
law.  Then  said  she.  Sit  still,  my  daughter,  until 
thou  know  how  the  matter  will  fall:  for  the  man 
will  not  be  in  rest,  until  he  have  finished  the  thing 
this  day. 

BoAz  Consults  His  Kinsman  About  Ruth 

Then  went  Boaz  up  to  the  gate,  and  sat  him  down 
there:  and,  behold,  the  kinsman  of  whom  Boaz 
spake  came  by;  unto  whom  he  said.  Ho,  such  a 
one !  turn  aside,  sit  down  here.  And  he  turned 
aside,  and  sat  do^vn.  And  he  took  ten  men  of  the 
elders  of  the  city,  and  said,  Sit  ye  down  here. 
And  they  sat  down. 

And  he  said  unto  the  kinsman,  Naomi,  that  is 
come  again  out  of  the  country  of  Moab,  selleth  a 
parcel  of  land,  which  was  our  brother  Elimelech  's : 
and  I  thought  to  advertise  thee,  saying.  Buy  it 
before  the  inhabitants,  and  before  the  elders  of  my 
people.  If  thou  wilt  redeem  it,  redeem  it:  but  if 
thou  wilt  not  redeem  it,  then  tell  me,  that  I  may 
know :  for  there  is  none  to  redeem  it  besides  thee ; 
and  I  a77i  after  thee. 
.    And  he  said,  I  will  redeem  it. 

Then  said  Boaz,  What  day  thou  buyest  the  field 
of  the  hand  of  Naomi,  thou  must  buy  it  also  of 
Ruth  the  Moabitess,  the  wife  of  the  dead,  to  raise 

177 


BIBLE  STORIES 

up  the  name  of  the  dead  upon  his  inheritance. 

And  the  kinsman  said,  I  cannot  redeem  it  for 
myself,  lest  I  mar  mine  own  inheritance :  redeem 
thou  my  right  to  thyself;  for  I  cannot  redeem  it. 

Now  this  tvas  the  manner  in  former  time  in 
Israel  concerning  redeeming  and  concerning 
changing,  for  to  confirm  all  things ;  a  man  plucked 
off  his  shoe,  and  gave  it  to  his  neighbour :  and  this 
was  a  testimony  in  Israel.  Therefore  the  kinsman 
said  unto  Boaz,  Buy  it  for  thee.  So  he  drew  off 
his  shoe. 


BoAZ  Buys  Naomi's  Property 

And  Boaz  said  unto  the  elders,  and  unto  all  the 
people.  Ye  are  witnesses  this  day,  that  I  have 
bought  all  that  was  Elimelech's,  and  all  that  was 
Chilion's  and  Mahlon's,  of  the  hand  of  Naomi. 
Moreover  Ruth  the  Moabitess,  the  wife  of  Mahlon, 
have  I  purchased  to  be  my  wife,  to  raise  up  the 
name  of  the  dead  upon  his  inheritance,  that  the 
name  of  the  dead  be  not  cut  off  from  among  his 
brethren,  and  from  the  gate  of  his  place :  ye  are 
witnesses  this  day. 

And  all  the  people  that  were  in  the  gate,  and 
the  elders,  said,  We  are  witnesses.  The  Lord 
make  the  woman  that  is  come  into  thine  house  like 
Rachel  and  like  Leah,  which  two  did  build  the 
house  of  Israel :  and  do  thou  worthily  in  Ephratah, 
and  be  famous  in  Beth-lehem:  And  let  thy  house 
be  like  the  house  of  Pharez,  whom  Tamar  bare 

178 


BIBLE  STORIES 

unto  Judali,  of  the  seed  which  the  Lord  shall  give 
thee  of  this  young  woman. 

BoAZ  Marries  Ruth 

So  Boaz  took  Ruth,  and  she  was  his  wife:  and 
the  Lord  gave  her  a  son. 

And  Naomi  took  the  child,  and  laid  it  in  her 
bosom,  and  became  nurse  unto  it.  And  they  called 
his  name  Obed:  he  is  the  father  of  Jesse,  the 
father  of  David. 

GOD  CALLETH  SAMUEL 

(I.  Samuel  iii.  1-21) 

And  the  child  Samuel  ministered  unto  the  Lord 
before  Eli.  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  precious 
in  those  days ;  there  was  no  open  vision.  And  it 
came  to  pass  at  that  time,  when  Eli  ivas  laid  down 
in  his  place,  and  his  eyes  began  to  wax  dim,  that 
he  could  not  see;  and  ere  the  lamp  of  God  went 
out  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  where  the  ark  of 
God  was,  and  Samuel  was  laid  down  to  sleep; 
that  the  Lord  called  Samuel:  and  he  answered. 
Here  am  I.  And  he  ran  unto  Eli,  and  said.  Here 
am  1 ;  for  thou  calledst  me.  And  he  said,  I  called 
not;  lie  do^vn  again.    And  he  went  and  lay  down. 

And  the  Lord  called  yet  again,  Samuel.  And 
Samuel  arose  and  went  to  Eli,  and  said.  Here  am 
I;  for  thou  didst  call  me.  And  he  answered,  I 
called  not,  my  son ;  lie  down  again.    Now  Samuel 

179 


BIBLE  STORIES 

did  not  yet  know  the  Lord,  neither  was  the  word 
of  tlie  Lord  yet  revealed  unto  him. 

And  the  Lord  called  Samuel  again  the  third  time. 
And  he  arose  and  went  to  Eli,  and  said,  Here  am 
I ;  for  thou  didst  call  me.  And  Eli  perceived  that 
the  Lord  had  called  the  child.  Therefore  Eli  said 
unto  Samuel,  Go,  lie  down:  and  it  shall  be,  if  he 
call  thee,  that  thou  shalt  say.  Speak,  Lord  ;  for  thy 
servant  heareth.  So  Samuel  went  and  lay  down 
in  his  place. 

And  the  Lord  came,  and  stood,  and  called  as  at 
other  times,  Samuel,  Samuel.  Then  Samuel  an- 
swered. Speak;  for  thy  servant  heareth. 

And  the  Lord  said  to  Samuel,  Behold,  I  will 
do  a  thing  in  Israel,  at  which  both  the  ears  of  every 
one  that  heareth  it  shall  tingle.  In  that  day  I  will 
perform  against  Eli  all  things  which  I  have  spoken 
concerning  his  house :  when  I  begin,  I  will  also 
make  an  end.  For  I  have  told  him  that  I  will 
judge  his  house  for  ever  for  the  iniquity  which 
he  knoweth;  because  his  sons  made  themselves 
vile,  and  he  restrained  them  not.  And  therefore  I 
have  sworn  unto  the  house  of  Eli,  that  the  iniquity 
of  Eli's  house  shall  not  be  purged  with  sacrifice 
nor  offering  for  ever. 

And  Samuel  lay  until  the  morning,  and  opened 
the  doors  of  the  house  of  the  Lord.  And  Samuel 
feared  to  shew  Eli  the  vision.  Then  Eli  called 
Samuel,  and  said,  Samuel,  my  son.  And  he  an- 
swered. Here  am  I.  And  he  said.  What  is  the  thing 
that  the  Lord  hath  said  unto  thee?     I  pray  thee 

180 


Tig.  1y. — The  Lord  Speaks  to  Samuel. 
Sir  Joshua  Reynolds.    National  Gallery,  London. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

hide  it  not  from  me :  God  do  so  to  thee,  and  more 
also,  if  thou  hide  any  thing  from  me  of  all  the 
things  that  he  said  unto  thee.  And  Samuel  told 
him  every  whit,  and  hid  nothing  from  him.  And 
he  said.  It  is  the  Lord:  let  him  do  what  seemeth 
him  good. 

And  Samuel  grew,  and  the  Lord  was  with  him, 
and  did  let  none  of  his  words  fall  to  the  ground. 
And  all  Israel  from  Dan  even  to  Beersheba  knew 
that  Samuel  was  established  to  he  a  prophet  of 
the  Lord.  And  the  Lord  appeared  again  in  Shiloh : 
for  the  Lord  revealed  himself  to  Samuel  in  Shiloh 
by  the  word  of  the  Lord. 

And  the  word  of  Samuel  came  to  all  Israel. 

DAVID  AND  GOLIATH 

(I.  Samuel  xvii.  4-55) 

And  there  went  out  a  champion  out  of  the  camp 
of  the  Philistines,  named  Goliath,  of  Gath,  whose 
height  was  six  cubits  and  a  span.  And  he  had 
an  helmet  of  brass  upon  his  head,  and  he  was 
armed  with  a  coat  of  mail ;  and  the  weight  of  the 
coat  was  five  thousand  shekels  of  brass.  And  he 
had  greaves  of  brass  upon  his  legs,  and  a  target  of 
brass  between  his  shoulders.  And  the  staff  of  his 
spear  was  like  a  weaver 's  beam ;  and  his  spear 's 
head  iveighed  six  hundred  shekels  of  iron:  and  one 
bearing  a  shield  went  before  him.  And  he  stood 
and  cried  unto  the  armies  of  Israel,  and  said  unto 
them.  Why  are  ye  come  out  to  set  your  battle  in 

183 


BIBLE  STORIES 


Fig.  18. — David  with  the 
Head  op  Goliath. 

Verrocchio. 
Bargello,  Florence. 


array?  am  not  I  a  Philistine,  and  ye  servants  to 
Saul?  choose  you  a  man  for  you,  and  let  him  come 
down  to  me.  If  he  be  able  to  fight  with  me,  and  to 
kill  me,  then  will  we  be  your  servants :  but  if  I  pre- 
vail against  him,  and  kill  him,  then  shall  ye  be  our 
servants,  and  serve  us.  And  the  Philistine  said, 
I  defy  the  armies  of  Israel  this  day;  give  me  a 
man,  that  we  may  fight  together. 
When  Saul  and  all  Israel  heard  those  words 
184 


BIBLE  STORIES 

of  the  Philistine,  they  were  dismayed,  and  greatly 
afraid. 

Jesse  Sends  David,  His  Youngest  Son,  for  News 
OF  THE  Battle 

Now  David  was  the  son  of  that  Ephrathite  of 
Beth-lehem-judah,  whose  name  was  Jesse ;  and  he 
had  eight  sons :  And  David  tvas  the  youngest :  and 
the  three  eldest  followed  Saul. 

And  the  Philistine  drew  near  morning  and  eve- 
ning, and  presented  himself  forty  days. 

And  Jesse  said  unto  David  his  son,  Take  now 
for  thy  brethren  an  ephah  of  this  parched  corn, 
and  these  ten  loaves,  and  run  to  the  camp  to  thy 
brethren;  and  carry  these  ten  cheeses  unto  the 
captain  of  their  thousand,  and  look  how  th)^  breth- 
ren fare,  and  take  their  pledge. 

And  David  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and 
left  the  sheep  with  a  keeper,  and  took,  and  went,  as 
Jesse  had  commanded  him;  and  he  came  to  the 
trench,  as  the  host  was  going  forth  to  the  fight, 
and  shouted  for  the  battle.  For  Israel  and  the 
Philistines  had  put  the  battle  in  array,  army 
against  army. 

And  David  left  his  carriage  in  the  hand  of  the 
keeper  of  the  carriage,  and  ran  into  the  army, 
and  came  and  saluted  his  brethren.  And  as  he 
talked  with  them,  behold,  there  came  up  the  cham- 
pion, the  Philistine  of  Gath,  Goliath  by  name,  out 
of  the  armies  of  the  Philistines,  and  spake  accord- 
ing to  the  same  words:  and  David  heard  them. 

185 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  all  the  men  of  Israel,  when  they  saw  the  man, 
fled  from  him,  and  were  sore  afraid. 

And  the  men  of  Israel  said.  Have  ye  seen  this 
man  that  is  come  up?  surely  to  defy  Israel  is  he 
come  up :  and  it  shall  be,  that  the  man  who  killeth 
him,  the  king  will  enrich  him  with  great  riches,  and 
will  give  him  his  daughter,  and  make  his  father 's 
house  free  in  Israel. 

And  David  spake  to  the  men  that  stood  by  him, 
saying,  What  shall  be  done  to  the  man  that  killeth 
this  Philistine,  and  taketh  away  the  reproach  from 
Israel?  for  who  is  this  uncircumcised  Philistine, 
that  he  should  defy  the  armies  of  the  living  God? 

And  the  people  answered  him  after  this  manner, 
saying.  So  shall  it  be  done  to  the  man  that  killeth 
him. 

And  Eliab  his  eldest  brother  heard  when  he 
spake  unto  the  men;  and  Eliab 's  anger  was  kindled 
against  David,  and  he  said,  Why  camest  thou  down 
hither?  and  with  whom  hast  thou  left  those  few 
sheep  in  the  wilderness  ?  I  know  thy  pride,  and  the 
naughtiness  of  thine  heart;  for  thou  art  come 
down  that  thou  mightest  see  the  battle. 

And  David  said,  What  have  I  now  done?  7^ 
there  not  a  cause?  And  he  turned  from  him  to- 
ward another,  and  spake  after  the  same  manner : 
and  the  people  answered  him  again  after  the  for- 
mer manner. 

And  when  the  words  were  heard  which  David 
spake,  they  rehearsed  them  before  Saul:  and  he 
sent  for  him.    And  David  said  to  Saul,  Let  no 

186 


BIBLE  STORIES 

man's  heart  fail  because  of  him;  thy  servant  will 
go  and  light  with  this  Philistine. 

And  Saul  said  to  David,  Thou  art  not  able  to 
go  against  this  Philistine  to  fight  with  him:  for 
thou  art  hut  a  youth,  and  he  a  man  of  war  from 
his  youth. 

David  Tells  Saul  How  He  Slew  a  Bear 
AND  A  Lion 

And  David  said  unto  Saul,  Thy  servant  kept 
his  father's  sheep,  and  there  came  a  lion,  and  a 
bear,  and  took  a  lamb  out  of  the  flock :  and  I  went 
out  after  him,  and  smote  him,  and  delivered  it 
out  of  his  mouth :  and  when  he  arose  against  me, 
I  caught  him  by  his  beard,  and  smote  him,  and 
slew  him.  Thy  servant  slew  both  the  lion  and  the 
bear :  and  this  uncircumcised  Philistine  shall  be  as 
one  of  them,  seeing  he  hath  defied  the  armies  of 
the  living  God.  David  said  moreover,  The  Lord 
that  delivered  me  out  of  the  paw  of  the  lion,  and 
out  of  the  paw  of  the  bear,  he  will  deliver  me  out  of 
the  hand  of  this  Philistine. 

And  Saul  said  unto  David,  Go,  and  the  Lord 
be  with  thee. 

And  Saul  armed  David  with  his  armour,  and 
he  put  an  helmet  of  brass  upon  his  head ;  also  he 
armed  him  with  a  coat  of  mail.  And  David 
girded  his  sword  upon  his  armour,  and  he  assayed 
to  go ;  for  he  had  not  proved  it.  And  David  said 
unto  Saul,  I  cannot  go  with  these ;  for  I  have  not 
proved  them.    And  David  put  them  off  him. 

187 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  he  took  his  staff  in  his  hand,  and  chose  him 
five  smooth  stones  out  of  the  brook,  and  put  them 
in  a  shepherd 's  bag  which  he  had,  even  in  a  scrip ; 
and  his  sling  ivas  in  his  hand :  and  he  drew  near 
to  the  Philistine.  And  the  Philistine  came  on  and 
drew  near  unto  David ;  and  the  man  that  bare  the 
shield  went  before  him. 

Goliath  Defies  David 

And  when  the  Philistine  looked  about,  and  saw 
David,  he  disdained  him :  for  he  was  but  a  youth, 
and  ruddy,  and  of  a  fair  countenance.  And  the 
Philistine  said  unto  David,  Am  I  a  dog,  that  thou 
comest  to  me  with  staves?  And  the  Philistine 
cursed  David  by  his  gods.  And  the  Philistine  said 
to  David,  Come  to  me,  and  I  will  give  thy  flesh 
unto  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  to  the  beasts  of  the 
field. 

Then  said  David  to  the  Philistine,  Thou  comest 
to  me  with  a  sword,  and  with  a  spear,  and  with  a 
shield :  but  I  come  to  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  the  God  of  the  armies  of  Israel,  whom 
thou  hast  defied.  This  day  will  the  Lord  deliver 
thee  into  mine  hand;  and  I  will  smite  thee,  and 
take  thine  head  from  thee;  and  I  will  give  the 
carcasses  of  the  host  of  the  Philistines  this  day 
unto  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  to  the  wild  beasts  of 
the  earth ;  that  all  the  earth  may  know  that  there 
is  a  God  in  Israel.  And  all  this  assembly  shall 
know  that  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  sword  and 

188 


BIBLE  STORIES 

spear :  for  the  battle  is  the  Lord  's,  and  he  will  give 
you  into  our  hands. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Philistine  arose, 
and  came  and  drew  nigh  to  meet  David,  that  David 
hasted,  and  ran  toward  the  army  to  meet  the  Phil- 
istine. And  David  put  his  hand  in  his  bag,  and 
took  thence  a  stone,  and  slang  it,  and  smote  the 
Philistine  in  his  forehead,  that  the  stone  sunk  into 
his  forehead ;  and  he  fell  upon  his  face  to  the  earth. 
So  David  prevailed  over  the  Philistine  with  a 
sling  and  with  a  stone,  and  smote  the  Philistine, 
and  slew  him;  but  there  ivas  no  sword  in  the  hand 
of  David.  Therefore  David  ran,  and  stood  upon 
the  Philistine,  and  took  his  sword,  and  drew  it  out 
of  the  sheath  thereof,  and  slew  him,  and  cut  off 
his  head  therewith. 

And  when  the  Philistines  saw  their  champion 
was  dead,  they  fled.  And  the  men  of  Israel  and 
of  Judah  arose,  and  shouted,  and  pursued  the 
Philistines,  until  thou  come  to  the  vallej^  and  to 
the  gates  of  Ekron. 

And  David  took  the  head  of  the  Philistine,  and 
brought  it  to  Jerusalem;  but  he  put  his  armour 
in  his  tent. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

SAUL  HATES  DAVID 

(I.  Samuel  xviii.  1-30) 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  had  made  an  end 
of  speaking  unto  Saul,  tliat  tlie  soul  of  Jonathan 
was  knit  with  the  soul  of  David,  and  Jonathan 
loved  him  as  his  own  soul.  And  Saul  took  him 
that  day,  and  would  let  him  go  no  more  home  to 
his  father's  house.  Then  Jonathan  and  David 
made  a  covenant,  because  he  loved  him  as  his  own 
soul.  And  Jonathan  stripped  himself  of  the  robe 
that  was  upon  him,  and  gave  it  to  David,  and  his 
garments,  even  to  his  sword,  and  to  his  bow,  and 
to  his  girdle. 

And  David  went  out  whithersoever  Saul  sent 
him,  and  behaved  himself  wisely :  and  Saul  set  him 
over  the  men  of  war,  and  he  was  accepted  in  the 
sight  of  all  the  people,  and  also  in  the  sight  of 
Saul's  servants. 

And  it  came  to  pass  as  they  came,  when  David 
was  returned  from  the  slaughter  of  the  Philistine, 
that  the  women  came  out  of  all  cities  of  Israel, 
singing  and  dancing,  to  meet  king  Saul,  with  tab- 
rets,  with  joy,  and  with  instruments  of  music.  And 
the  women  answered  one  another  as  they  played, 
and  said, 

Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands, 
And  David  his  ten  thousands. 

And  Saul  was  very  wroth,  and  the  saying  dis-^ 
190 


BIBLE  STORIES 

pleased  him ;  and  he  said,  They  have  ascribed  unto 
David  ten  thousands,  and  to  me  they  have  ascribed 
hut  thousands :  and  ivhat  can  he  have  more  but  the 
kingdom?  And  Saul  eyed  David  from  that  day 
and  forward. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
the  evil  spirit  from  God  came  upon  Saul,  and 
he  prophesied  in  the  midst  of  the  house :  and  David 
played  with  his  hand,  as  at  other  times :  and  there 
was  a  javelin  in  Saul's  hand.  And  Saul  cast  the 
javelin;  for  he  said,  I  will  smite  David  even  to 
the  wall  tvith  it.  And  David  avoided  out  of  his 
presence  twice. 

And  Saul  was  afraid  of  David,  because  the  Lord 
was  with  him,  and  was  departed  from  Saul.  There- 
fore Saul  removed  him  from  him,  and  made  him 
his  captain  over  a  thousand ;  and  he  went  out  and 
came  in  before  the  people.  And  David  behaved 
himself  wisely  in  all  his  ways ;  and  the  Lord  itas 
with  him.  Wherefore  when  Saul  saw  that  he  be- 
haved himself  very  wisely,  he  was  afraid  of  him. 
But  all  Israel  and  Judah  loved  David,  because  he 
went  out  and  came  in  before  them. 

And  Michal  Saul's  daughter  loved  David:  and 
they  told  Saul,  and  the  thing  pleased  him.  And 
Saul  said,  I  will  give  him  her,  that  she  may  be  a 
snare  to  him,  and  that  the  hand  of  the  Philistines 
may  be  against  him.  Wherefore  Saul  said  to 
David,  Thou  shalt  this  day  be  my  son  in  law  in 
the  one  of  the  twain. 

And  Saul  commanded  his  servants,  saying, 
191 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Commune  with  David  secretly,  and  say,  Behold, 
the  king  hath  delight  in  thee,  and  all  his  servants 
love  thee:  now  therefore  be  the  king's  son  in  law. 
And  Saul's  servants  spake  those  words  in  the 
ears  of  David.  And  David  said,  Seemeth  it  to  you 
a  light  thing  to  be  a  king's  son  in  law,  seeing  that  I 
am  a  poor  man,  and  lightly  esteemed?  And  the 
servants  of  Saul  told  him,  saying,  On  this  manner 
spake  David.  And  Saul  said.  Thus  shall  ye  say 
to  David,  The  king  desireth  not  any  dowry,  but  an 
hundred  foreskins  of  the  Philistines,  to  be  avenged 
of  the  king's  enemies.  But  Saul  thought  to  make 
David  fall  by  the  hand  of  the  Philistines. 

And  when  his  servants  told  David  these  words, 
it  pleased  David  well  to  be  the  king's  son  in  law: 
and  the  days  were  not  expired.  Wherefore  David 
arose  and  went,  he  and  his  men,  and  slew  of  the 
Philistines  two  hundred  men ;  and  Saul  gave  him 
Michal  his  daughter  to  wife. 

x\nd  Saul  saw  and  knew  that  the  Lord  was  with 
David,  and  that  Michal  Saul's  daughter  loved  him. 
And  Saul  was  yet  the  more  afraid  of  David ;  and 
Saul  became  David's  enemy  continually. 

Then  the  princes  of  the  Philistines  went  forth : 
and  it  came  to  pass,  after  they  went  forth,  that 
David  behaved  himself  more  wisely  than  all  the 
servants  of  Saul ;  so  that  his  name  was  much  set  by. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

SAUL  SEEKS  TO  KILL  DAVID 

( I.  Samuel  xix.  8-24 ) 

And  there  was  war  again :  and  David  went  ont, 
and  fought  with  the  Philistines,  and  slew  them 
with  a  great  slaughter ;  and  they  fled  from  him. 

And  the  evil  spirit  from  the  Lord  was  upon  Saul, 
as  he  sat  in  his  house  Avith  his  javelin  in  his  hand : 
and  David  played  with  his  hand.  And  Saul  sought 
to  smite  David  even  to  the  wall  with  the  javelin ; 
but  he  slipped  away  out  of  Saul's  presence,  and 
he  smote  the  javelin  into  the  wall :  and  David  fled, 
and  escaped  that  night. 

Saul  also  sent  messengers  unto  David's  house, 
to  watch  him,  and  to  slay  him  in  the  morning:  and 
Michal  David's  wife  told  him,  saying,  If  thou  save 
not  thy  life  to  night,  to  morrow  thou  shalt  be  slain. 
So  Michal  let  David  down  through  a  window: 
and  he  went,  and  fled,  and  escaped.  And  Michal 
took  an  image,  and  laid  it  in  the  bed,  and  put  a 
pillow  of  goats'  hair  for  his  bolster,  and  covered  it 
with  a  cloth.  And  when  Saul  sent  messengers  to 
take  David,  she  said.  He  is  sick.  And  Saul  sent  the 
messengers  again  to  see  David,  saying,  Bring  him 
up  to  me  in  the  bed,  that  I  may  slay  him.  And 
when  the  messengers  were  come  in,  behold,  there 
was  an  image  in  the  bed,  with  a  pillow  of  goats  ^ 
hair  for  his  bolster.  And  Saul  said  unto  Michal, 
Why  hast  thou  deceived  me  so,  and  sent  away  mine 
enemy,  that  he  is  escaped?    And  Michal  answered 

193 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Saul,  He  said  unto  me,  Let  me  go;  why  should  I 
kill  thee? 

So  David  fled,  and  escaped,  and  came  to  Samuel 
to  Ramah,  and  told  him  all  that  Saul  had  done 
to  him.  And  he  and  Samuel  went  and  dwelt  in 
Naioth.  And  it  was  told  Saul,  saying.  Behold, 
David  is  at  Naioth  in  Ramah.  And  Saul  sent  mes- 
sengers to  take  David:  and  when  they  saw  the 
company  of  the  prophets  prophesying,  and  Samuel 
standing  as  appointed  over  them,  the  Spirit  of 
God  was  upon  the  messengers  of  Saul,  and  they 
also  prophesied.  And  when  it  was  told  Saul,  he 
sent  other  messengers,  and  they  prophesied  like- 
wise. And  Saul  sent  messengers  as-ain  the  third 
time,  and  they  prophesied  also.  Then  went  he 
also  to  Ramah,  and  came  to  a  great  well  that  is 
in  Sechu:  and  he  asked  and  said,  Where  are 
Samuel  and  David?  And  one  said,  Behold,  they 
be  at  Naioth  in  Ramah.  And  he  went  thither  to 
Naioth  in  Ramah :  and  the  Spirit  of  God  was  upon 
him  also,  and  he  went  on,  and  prophesied,  until 
he  came  to  Naioth  in  Ramah.  And  he  stripped  off 
his  clothes  also,  and  prophesied  before  Samuel  in 
like  manner,  and  lay  down  naked  all  that  day  and 
all  that  night.  Wherefore  they  say,  75  Saul  also 
among  the  prophets? 


BIBLE  STORIES 

DAVID  AND  JONATHAN  SWEAR 
FRIENDSHIP 

(I.  Samuel  xx.   17-42) 

And  Jonathan  caused  David  to  swear  again,  be- 
cause he  loved  him :  for  he  loved  him  as  he  loved 
his  own  soul. 

Then  Jonathan  said  to  David,  To  morrow  is  the 
new  moon:  and  thou  shalt  be  missed,  because  thy 
seat  will  be  empty.  And  ivhen  thou  hast  stayed 
three  days,  then  thou  shalt  go  down  quickly,  and 
come  to  the  place  where  thou  didst  hide  thyself 
when  the  business  was  in  hand,  and  shalt  remain 
by  the  stone  Ezel.  And  I  will  shoot  three  arrows 
on  the  side  thereof,  as  though  I  shot  at  a  mark. 
And,  behold,  I  will  send  a  lad,  saying,  Go,  find  out 
the  arrows.  If  I  expressly  say  unto  the  lad.  Be- 
hold, the  arrows  are  on  this  side  of  thee,  take 
them ;  then  come  thou :  for  there  is  peace  to  thee, 
and  no  hurt ;  as  the  Lord  liveth.  But  if  I  say  thus 
unto  the  young  man.  Behold,  the  arrows  are  be- 
yond thee ;  go  thy  way :  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  thee 
away.  And  as  touching  the  matter  which  thou  and 
I  have  spoken  of,  behold,  the  Lord  be  between  thee 
and  me  for  ever. 

So  David  hid  himself  in  the  field :  and  when  the 
new  moon  was  come,  the  king  sat  him  down  to  eat 
meat.  And  the  king  sat  upon  his  seat,  as  at  other 
times,  even  upon  a  seat  by  the  wall :  and  Jonathan 
arose,  and  Abner  sat  by  Saul's  side,  and  David's 
place  was  empty.     Nevertheless  Saul  spake  not 

195 


BIBLE  STORIES 

any  thins:  that  day:  for  he  thoii^-ht,  Something 
hath  befallen  him,  he  is  not  clean ;  surely  he  is  not 
clean. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  which  was 
the  second  dajf  of  the  month,  that  David's  place 
was  empty :  and  Saul  said  unto  Jonathan  his  son, 
Wherefore  cometh  not  the  son  of  Jesse  to  meat, 
neither  yesterday,  nor  to  dav?  And  Jonathan 
answered  Saul,  David  earnestly  asked  leavp  of  me 
to  go  to  Bethlehem :  and  he  said.  Let  me  ^o,  I  -pray 
thee;  for  our  family  hath  a  sacrifice  in  the  city; 
and  my  brother,  he  hath  commanded  me  to  he 
there:  and  now,  if  I  have  found  favour  in  thine 
eyes,  let  me  get  away,  I  pray  thee,  and  see  my 
brethren.  Therefore  he  cometh  not  unto  the 
kinp:'s  table. 

Then  Saul's  anp:er  was  kindled  a,8:ainst  Jona- 
than, and  he  said  unto  him,  Thou  son  of  the  per- 
verse rebellious  woman,  do  not  I  know  that  thou 
hast  chosen  the  son  of  Jesse  to  thine  own  c(m- 
fusion,  and  unto  the  confusion  of  thv  mother's 
nakedness?  For  as  Ions:  as  the  son  of  Jpsse  liveth 
upon  the  ,2:round,  thou  shalt  not  be  established,  nor 
thy  kingdom.  Wherefore  now  send  and  fetch  him 
unto  me,  for  he  shall  surelv  die. 

And  Jonathan  answered  Saul  his  father,  and 
said  unto  him.  Wherefore  shall  he  be  slain?  what 
hath  he  done?  And  Saul  cast  a  javelin  at  him  to 
smite  him:  whereby  Jonathan  knew  that  it  was 
determined  of  his  father  to  slav  David.  So  Jona- 
than arose  from  the  table  in  fierce  ans:er,  and  did 

196 


BIBLE  STORIES 

eat  no  meat  the  second  day  of  the  month :  for  he 
was  grieved  for  David,  because  his  father  had 
done  him  shame. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning,  that  Jona- 
than went  out  into  the  field  at  the  time  appointed 
with  David,  and  a  little  lad  with  him.  And  he  said 
unto  his  lad,  "Run,  find  out  now  the  arrows  which 
I  shoot.  And  as  the  lad  ran,  he  shot  an  arrow 
beyond  him.  And  when  the  lad  was  come  to  the 
place  of  the  arrow  which  Jonathan  had  shot,  Jona- 
than cried  after  the  lad,  and  said,  Is  not  the  arrow 
beyond  thee?  And  Jonathan  cried  after  the  lad. 
Make  speed,  haste,  stay  not.  And  Jonathan 's  lad 
gathered  up  the  arrows,  and  came  to  his  master. 
But  the  lad  knew  not  any  thing:  only  Jonathan 
and  David  knew  the  matter.  And  Jonathan  gave 
his  artillery  unto  his  lad,  and  said  unto  him,  Go, 
carry  fhpm  to  the  city. 

And  as  soon  as  the  lad  was  gone,  David  arose 
out  of  a  place  tovv^ard  the  south,  and  fell  on  his 
face  to  the  ground,  and  bowed  himself  three  times  : 
and  they  kissed  one  another,  and  wept  one  with 
another,  until  David  exceeded.  And  Jonathan 
said  to  David,  Go  in  peace,  forasmuch  as  we  have 
sworn  both  of  us  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  say- 
ing. The  Lord  be  between  me  and  thee,  and 
between  my  seed  and  thy  seed  for  ever.  And  he 
arose  and  departed :  and  Jonathan  went  into  the 
city. 


197 


BIBLE  STORIES 

DAVID  SPARETH  SAUL'S  LIFE 

(I.  Samuel  xxiv.  1-22) 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Saul  was  returned 
from  following  the  Philistines,  that  it  was  told 
him,  saying,  Behold,  David,  is  in  the  wilderness 
of  En-gedi.  Then  Saul  took  three  thousand 
chosen  men  out  of  all  Israel,  and  went  to  seek 
David  and  his  men  upon  the  rocks  of  the  wild 
goats.  And  he  came  to  the  sheepcotes  by  the  way, 
where  was  a  cave ;  and  Saul  went  in  to  cover  his 
feet :  and  David  and  his  men  remained  in  the  sides 
of  the  cave. 

And  the  men  of  David  said  unto  him.  Behold  the 
day  of  which  the  Lord  said  unto  thee.  Behold,  I 
will  deliver  thine  enemy  into  thine  hand,  that 
thou  mayest  do  to  him  as  it  shall  seem  good  unto 
thee.  Then  David  arose,  and  cut  off  the  skirt  of 
Saul's  robe  privily.  And  it  came  to  pass  after- 
ward, that  David's  heart  smote  him,  because  he 
had  cut  off  Saul's  skirt.  And  he  said  unto  his 
men.  The  Lord  forbid  that  I  should  do  this  thing 
unto  my  master,  the  Lord's  anointed,  to  stretch 
forth  mine  hand  against  him,  seeing  he  is  the 
anointed  of  the  Lord.  So  David  stayed  his  ser- 
vants with  these  words,  and  suffered  them  not  to 
rise  against  Saul. 

But  Saul  rose  up  out  of  the  cave,  and  went  on 
his  way.  David  also  arose  afterward,  and  went 
out  of  the  cave,  and  cried  after  Saul,  saying,  My 

198 


BIBLE  STORIES 

lord  the  king.  And  when  Saul  looked  behind  him, 
David  stooped  with  his  face  to  the  earth,  and 
bowed  himself.     ' 

And  David  said  to  Sanl,  Wherefore  hearest  thou 
men's  words,  saying.  Behold,  David  seeketh  thy 
hurt?  Behold,  this  day  thine  eyes  have  seen  how 
that  the  Lord  had  delivered  thee  to  day  into  mine 
hand  in  the  cave :  and  some  bade  7ne  kill  thee :  but 
7ni}ie  eye  spared  thee ;  and  I  said,  I  will  not  put 
forth  mine  hand  against  my  lord;  for  he  is  the 
Lord's  anointed.  Moreover,  my  father,  see,  yea, 
see  the  skirt  of  thy  robe  in  my  hand :  for  in  that 
I  cut  off  the  skirt  of  thy  robe,  and  killed  thee  not, 
know  thou  and  see  that  there  is  neither  evil  nor 
transgression  in  mine  hand,  and  I  have  not  sinned 
against  thee ;  yet  thou  huntest  my  soul  to  take  it. 
The  Lord  judge  between  me  and  thee,  and  the 
Lord  avenge  me  of  thee :  but  mine  hand  shall  not 
be  upon  thee.  As  saith  the  proverb  of  the  ancients, 
Wickedness  proceedeth  from  the  wicked :  but  mine 
hand  shall  not  be  upon  thee.  After  whom  is  the 
king  of  Israel  come  out?  after  whom  dost  thou 
pursue  ?  after  a  dead  dog,  after  a  flea.  The  Lord 
therefore  be  judge,  and  judge  between  me  and 
thee,  and  see,  and  plead  my  cause,  and  deliver  me 
out  of  thine  hand. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  David  had  made  an 
end  of  speaking  these  words  unto  Saul,  that  Saul 
said.  Is  this  thy  voice,  my  son  David?  And  Saul 
lifted  up  his  voice,  and  wept.  And  he  said  to 
David,  Thou  art  more  righteous  than  I :  for  thou 

199 


BIBLE  STORIES 

hast  rewarded  me  good,  whereas  I  have  rewarded 
thee  evil.  And  thou  hast  shewed  this  day  how 
that  thou  hast  dealt  well  with  me :  forasmuch  as 
when  the  Lord  had  delivered  me  into  thine  hand, 
thou  killedst  me  not.  For  if  a  man  find  his  enemy, 
will  he  let  him  go  well  away?  wherefore  the  Lord 
reward  thee  good  for  that  thou  hast  done  unto  me 
this  day.  And  now,  behold,  I  know  well  that  thou 
slialt  surely  be  king,  and  that  the  kingdom  of  Israel 
shall  be  established  in  thine  hand.  Swear  now 
therefore  unto  me  by  the  Lord,  that  thou  wilt  not 
cut  off  my  seed  after  me,  and  that  thou  wilt  not 
destroy  my  name  out  of  my  father's  house. 

And  David  sware  unto  Saul.  And  Saul  went 
home;  but  David  and  his  men  gat  them  up  unto 
the  hold. 

THE  STORY  OF  NABAL 

(I.  Samuel  XXV.  1-42) 

And  Samuel  died;  and  all  the  Israelites  were 
gathered  together,  and  lamented  him,  and  buried 
him  in  his  house  at  Eamah. 

And  David  arose,  and  went  down  to  the  wilder- 
ness of  Paran.  And  there  ivas  a  man  in  Maon, 
whose  possessions  ivere  in  Carmel;  and  the  man 
ivas  very  great,  and  he  had  three  thousand  sheep, 
and  a  thousand  goats:  and  he  was  shearing  his 
sheep  in  Carmel.  Now  the  name  of  the  man  ivas 
Nabal;  and  the  name  of  his  wife  Abigail:  and 
she  was  a  woman  of  good  understanding,  and  of 

200 


BIBLE  STORIES 

a  beautiful  countenance :  but  the  man  ivas  churlish 
and  evil  in  his  doings ;  and  he  ivas  of  the  house  of 
Caleb. 

And  David  heard  in  the  wilderness  that  Nabal 
did  shear  his   sheep.     And  David  sent  out  ten 


Fig.  19. — Abigail  Meeting  David  with  Presents. 
Rubens.     Detroit  Museum  of  Art. 

young  men,  and  David  said  unto  the  young  men, 
Get  you  up  to  Carmel,  and  go  to  Nabal,  and  greet 
him  in  my  name :  and  thus  shall  ye  say  to  him  that 
liveth  in  prosperity,  Peace  he  both  to  thee,  and 
peace  be  to  thine  house,  and  peace  be  unto  all  that 
thou  hast.  And  now  I  have  heard  that  thou  hast 
shearers :  now  thy  shepherds  which  were  with  us, 

201 


BIBLE  STORIES 

we  hurt  them  not,  neither  was  there  ought  missing 
unto  them,  all  the  while  they  were  in  Carmel.  Ask 
thy  young  men,  and  they  will  shew  thee.  Where- 
fore let  the  young  men  find  favour  in  thine  eyes : 
for  we  come  in  a  good  day:  give,  I  pray  thee, 
whatsoever  cometh  to  thine  hand  unto  thy  serv- 
ants, and  to  thy  son  David. 

And  when  David 's  young  men  came,  they  spake 
to  Nabal  according  to  all  those  words  in  the  name 
of  David,  and  ceased.  And  Nabal  answered 
David's  servants,  and  said,  Who  is  David?  and 
who  is  the  son  of  Jesse?  there  be  many  servants 
now  a  days  that  break  away  every  man  from  his 
master.  Shall  I  then  take  my  bread,  and  my  water, 
and  my  flesh  that  I  have  killed  for  my  shearers, 
and  give  it  unto  men,  whom  I  know  not  whence 
they  be? 

So  David's  young  men  turned  their  way,  and 
went  again,  and  came  and  told  him  all  those  say- 
ings. And  David  said  unto  his  men,  Gird  ye  on 
every  man  his  sword.  And  they  girded  on  every 
man  his  sword;  and  David  also  girded  on  his 
sword :  and  there  went  up  after  David  about  four 
hundred  men ;  and  two  hundred  abode  by  the  stuff. 

But  one  of  the  young  men  told  Abigail,  Nabal 's 
wife,  saying.  Behold,  David  sent  messengers  out 
of  the  wilderness  to  salute  our  master;  and  he 
railed  on  them.  But  the  men  ivere  very  good  unto 
us,  and  we  were  not  hurt,  neither  missed  we  any 
thing,  as  long  as  we  were  conversant  with  them, 
when  we  were  in  the  fields:  they  were  a  wall 

202 


BIBLE  STORIES 

unto  us  both  by  night  and  day,  all  the  while  we 
were  with  them  keeping  the  sheep.  Now  there- 
fore know  and  consider  what  thou  wilt  do;  for 
evil  is  determined  against  our  master,  and  against 
all  his  household:  for  he  is  such  a  son  of  Belial, 
that  a  man  cannot  speak  to  him. 

Then  Abigail  made  haste,  and  took  two  hundred 
loaves,  and  two  bottles  of  wine,  and  five  sheep 
ready  dressed,  and  five  measures  of  parched  corn, 
and  an  hundred  clusters  of  raisins,  and  two  hun- 
dred cakes  of  figs,  and  laid  them  on  asses.  And 
she  said  unto  her  servants.  Go  on  before  me ;  be- 
hold, I  come  after  you.  But  she  told  not  her  hus- 
band Nabal.  And  it  was  so,  as  she  rode  on  the  ass, 
that  she  came  down  by  the  covert  of  the  hill,  and, 
behold,  David  and  his  men  came  down  against  her ; 
and  she  met  them. 

Now  David  had  said.  Surely  in  vain  have  I  kept 
all  that  this  felloiv  hath  in  the  wilderness,  so  that 
nothing  was  missed  of  all  that  pertained  unto  him : 
and  he  hath  requited  me  evil  for  good.  So  and 
more  also  do  God  unto  the  enemies  of  David,  if  I 
leave  of  all  that  pertain  to  him  by  the  morning 
light  any. 

And  when  Abigail  saw  David,  she  hasted,  and 
lighted  off  the  ass,  and  fell  before  David  on  her 
face,  and  bowed  herself  to  the  ground,  and  fell 
at  his  feet,  and  said.  Upon  me,  my  lord,  upon  me 
let  this  iniquity  he:  and  let  thine  handmaid,  I  pray 
thee,  speak  in  thine  audience,  and  hear  the  words 
of  thine  handmaid.    Let  not  my  lord,  I  pray  thee, 

203 


BIBLE  STORIES 

regard  this  man  of  Belial,  even  Nabal :  for  as  Ms 
name  is,  so  is  he ;  Nabal  is  his  name,  and  folly  is 
with  him :  but  I  thine  handmaid  saw  not  the  yomig 
men  of  my  lord,  whom  thou  didst  send.  Now 
therefore,  my  lord,  as  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy 
soul  liveth,  seeing  the  Lord  hath  withholden  thee 
from  coming  to  shed  blood,  and  from  avenging 
thyself  with  thine  own  hand,  now  let  thine  enemies, 
and  they  that  seek  evil  to  my  lord,  be  as  Nabal. 
And  now  this  blessing  which  thine  handmaid  hath 
brought  unto  my  lord,  let  it  even  be  given  unto  the 
young  men  that  follow  my  lord.  I  pray  thee,  for- 
give the  trespass  of  thine  handmaid :  for  the  Lord 
will  certainly  make  my  lord  a  sure  house ;  because 
my  lord  fighteth  the  battles  of  the  Lord,  and  evil 
hath  not  been  found  in  thee  all  thy  days.  Yet 
a  man  is  risen  to  pursue  thee,  and  to  seek  thy  soul : 
but  the  soul  of  my  lord  shall  be  bound  in  the  bundle 
of  life  with  the  Lord  thy  God;  and  the  souls  of 
thine  enemies,  them  shall  he  sling  out,  as  out  of  the 
middle  of  a  sling.  And  it  shall  ^ome  to  pass,  when 
the  Lord  shall  have  done  to  my  lord  according  to 
all  the  good  that  he  hath  spoken  concerning  thee, 
and  shall  have  appointed  thee  ruler  over  Israel; 
that  this  shall  be  no  grief  unto  thee,  nor  offence  of 
heart  unto  my  lord,  either  that  thou  hast  shed 
blood  causeless,  or  that  my  lord  hath  avenged 
himself:  but  when  the  Lord  shall  have  dealt  well 
with  my  lord,  then  remember  thine  handmaid. 

And  David  said  to  Abigail,  Blessed  he  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  which  sent  thee  this  day  to  meet 

204 


BIBLE  STORIES 

me :  and  blessed  he  thy  advice,  and  blessed  he 
thou,  which  hast  kept  me  this  day  from  coming 
to  shed  blood,  and  from  avenging  myself  with 
mine  own  hand.  For  in  very  deed,  as  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel  liveth,  which  hath  kept  me  back 
from  hurting  thee,  except  thou  hadst  hasted  and 
come  to  meet  me,  surely  there  had  not  been  left 
unto  Nabal  by  the  morning  light  any. 

So  David  received  of  her  hand  that  which  she 
had  brought  him,  and  said  unto  her.  Go  up  in  peace 
to  thine  house;  see,  I  have  hearkened  to  thy  voice, 
and  have  accepted  thy  person. 

And  Abigail  came  to  Nabal ;  and,  behold,  he  held 
a  feast  in  his  house,  like  the  feast  of  a  king;  and 
Nabal 's  heart  ivas  merry  within  him,  for  he  ivas 
very  drunken :  wherefore  she  told  him  nothing,  less 
or  more,  until  the  morning  light.  But  it  came  to 
pass  in  the  morning,  when  the  Avine  was  gone  out 
of  Nabal,  and  his  wife  had  told  him  these  things, 
that  his  heart  died  within  him,  and  he  became  as 
a  stone.  And  it  came  to  pass  about  ten  days  after, 
that  the  Lord  smote  Nabal,  that  he  died. 

And  when  David  heard  that  Nabal  was  dead, 
he  said,  Blessed  he  the  Lord,  that  hath  pleaded  the 
cause  of  my  reproach  from  the  hand  of  Nabal,  and 
hath  kept  his  servant  from  evil:  for  the  Lord 
hath  returned  the  wickedness  of  Nabal  upon  his 
own  head. 


BIELE  STORIES 
SAUL  AND  THE  WITCH  OF  ENDOR 

( I.  Saimiol  Nxviii.  l>-25) 

Now  Samuel  was  doad,  and  all  Israel  had 
lamented  him,  and  buried  him  in  Ramah,  even  in 
his  own  city.  And  Saul  had  put  away  those  that 
had  familiar  spirits,  and  the  wizards,  out  of  the 
land. 

And  the  Philistines  gathered  themselves  to- 
gether, and  eame  and  pitched  in  Sliunem  :  and  Saul 
gathered  all  Israel  together,  and  they  pitched  in 
Gilboa.  And  when  Saul  gaw  the  host  of  the  Philis- 
tines, he  was  afraid,  and  his  heart  greatly  trem- 
bled. And  when  Saul  inquired  of  the  Lord,  the 
Lord  answered  him  not,  neither  by  dreams,  nor  by 
Urim,  nor  by  prophets. 

Then  said  Saul  unto  his  servants.  Seek  me  a 
woman  that  hath  a  familiar  spirit,  that  I  may  go 
to  her,  and  inquire  of  her.  And  his  servants  said 
to  him.  Behold,  there  'u<  a  woman  that  hath  a 
familiar  spirit  at  Endor. 

And  Saul  disguised  himself,  and  put  on  other 
raiment,  and  he  went,  and  two  men  with  him,  and 
they  came  to  the  woman  by  night :  and  he  said,  I 
pray  thee,  divine  unto  me  by  the  familiar  spirit, 
and  bring  me  liiw  up,  whom  I  shall  name  unto  thee. 

And  the  woman  said  unto  him.  Behold,  thou 
knowest  what  Saul  hath  done,  how  he  hath  cut  off 
those  that  have  familiar  spirits,  and  the  wizards, 

206 


BIBLE  STORIES 

out  of  the  land :  wherefore  then  layest  thou  a  snare 
for  my  life,  to  cause  me  to  die  ? 

And  Saul  sware  to  her  by  the  Lord,  saying,  As 
the  Lord  liveth,  there  shall  no  punishment  happen 
to  thee  for  this  thing. 

Then  said  the  woman,  Whom  shall  I  bring  up 
unto  thee? 

And  he  said,  Bring  me  up  Samuel. 

And  when  the  woman  saw  Samuel,  slie  cried 
with  a  loud  voice :  and  the  woman  spake  to  Saul, 
saying,  Why  hast  thou  deceived  me?  for  thou  art 
Saul. 

And  the  king  paid  unto  her,  Be  not  afraid :  for 
what  sawest  thou? 

And  the  woman  said  unto  Saul,  I  saw  gods  as- 
cending out  of  the  earth 

And  he  said  unto  her,  What  form  is  he  of? 

And  she  said.  An  old  man  cometh  up ;  and  he  is 
covered  with  a  mantle. 

And  Saul  perceived  that  it  was  Samuel,  and  he 
stopped  with  his  face  to  the  ground,  and  bowed 
himself. 

And  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Why  hast  thou  dis- 
quieted me,  to  bring  me  up  ? 

And  Saul  answered,  I  am  sore. distressed;  for 
the  Philistines  make  war  against  m.e,  and  God  is 
departed  from  me,  and  answereth  me  no  more, 
neither  by  prophets,  nor  by  dreams:  therefore  I 
have  called  thee,  that  thou  mayest  make  kno^vn 
unto  me  what  I  shall  do 

Then  said  Samuel,  Wherefore  then  dost  thou 
207 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ask  of  me,  seeing  the  Lord  is  departed  from  thee, 
and  is  become  thine  enemy?  And  the  Lord  hath 
done  to  him,  as  he  spake  by  me :  for  the  Lord  hath 
rent  the  kingdom  out  of  thine  hand,  and  giveri  it 
to  thy  neighbour,  even  to  David:  because  thou 
obeyedst  not  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  nor  executedst 
his  fierce  wrath  upon  Amalek,  therefore  hath  the 
Lord  done  this  thing  unto  thee  this  day.  More- 
over the  Lord  will  also  deliver  Israel  with  thee 
into  the  hand  of  the  Philistines :  and  to  morrow 
skalt  thou  and  thy  sons  he  with  me :  the  Lord  also 
shall  deliver  the  host  of  Israel  into  the  hand  of  the 
Philistines. 

Then  Saul  fell  straightway  all  along  on  the 
earth,  and  was  sore  afraid,  because  of  tlie  words 
of  Samuel :  and  there  was  no  strength  in  him ;  for 
he  had  eaten  no  bread  all  the  day,  nor  all  the  night. 
And  the  woman  came  unto  Saul,  and  saw  that  he 
was  sore  troubled,  and  said  unto  him.  Behold, 
thme  handmaid  hath  obeyed  thy  voice,  and  I  have 
put  my  life  in  my  hand,  and  have  hearkened  unto 
thy  words  which  thou  spakest  unto  me.  Now 
therefore,  I  pray  thee,  hearken  thou  also 
unto  the  voice  of  thine  handmaid,  and  let  me  set  a 
morsel  of  bread  before  thee;  and  eat,  that  thou 
mayest  have  strength,  when  thou  goest  on  thy 
way.  But  he  refused,  and  said,  I  will  not  eat.  But 
his  servants,  together  with  the  woman,  compelled 
him;  and  he  hearkened  unto  their  voice.  So  he 
arose  from  the  earth,  and  sat  upon  the  bed.  And 
the  woman  had  a  fat  calf  in  the  house;  and  she 

208 


BIBLE  STORIES 

hasted,  and  killed  it,  and  took  flour,  and  kneaded 
it,  and  did  bake  unleavened  bread  thereof  r  and  she 
brought  it  before  Saul,  and  before  his  servants; 
and  they  did  eat.  Then  they  rose  up,  and  went 
away  that  night. 

DAVID  SINS  AGAINST  URIAH 

(II.  Samuel  xi.  1-27) 

And  it  came  to  pass,  after  the  year  was  expired, 
at  the  time  when  kings  go  forth  to  battle,  that 
David  sent  Joab,  and  his  servants  with  him,  and 
all  Israel;  and  they  destroyed  the  children  of 
Ammon,  and  besieged  Rabbah.  But  David  tar- 
ried still  at  Jerusalem. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  an  eveningtide,  that 
David  arose  from  off  his  bed,  and  walked  upon 
the  roof  of  the  king 's  house :  and  from  the  roof 
he  saw  a  woman  washing  herself ;  and  the  woman 
was  very  beautiful  to  look  upon.  And  David  sent 
and  inquired  after  the  woman.  And  one  said,  Is 
not  this  Bath-sheba,  the  daughter  of  Eliam,  the 
wife  of  Uriah  the  Hittite? 

And  David  sent  to  Joab,  saying,  Send  me  Uriah 
the  Hittite.  And  Joab  sent  Uriah  to  David.  And 
when  Uriah  was  come  unto  him,  David  demanded 
of  him  how  Joab  did,  and  how  the  people  did,  and 
how  the  war  prospered.  And  David  said  to  Uriah, 
Go  doAvn  to  thy  house,  and  wash  thy  feet.  And 
Uriah  departed  out  of  the  king's  house,  and  there 
followed  him  a  mess  of  meat  from  the  king.   But 

209 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Uriah  slept  at  the  door  of  the  king's  house  with 
all  the  servants  of  his  lord,  and  went  not  down  to 
his  house. 

And  when  they  had  told  David,  saying,  Uriah 
went  not  down  unto  his  house,  David  said  unto 
Uriah,  Camest  thou  not  from  thy  journey?  why 
then  didst  thou  not  go  down  unto  thine  house? 
And  Uriah  said  unto  David,  The  ark,  and  Israel, 
and  Judah,  abide  in  tents ;  and  my  lord,  Joab,  and 
the  servants  of  my  lord,  are  encamped  in  the  open 
fields ;  shall  I  then  go  into  mine  house,  to  eat  and 
to  drink,  as  thou  livest,  and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I 
will  not  do  this  thing. 

And  David  said  to  Uriah,  Tarry  here  to  day 
also,  and  to  morrow  I  will  let  thee  depart.  So 
Uriah  abode  in  Jerusalem  that  day  and  the  mor- 
row. And  when  David  had  called  him,  he  did 
eat  and  drink  before  him ;  and  he  made  him  drunk : 
and  at  even  he  went  out  to  lie  on  his  bed  with  the 
servants  of  his  lord,  but  went  not  down  to  his 
house. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning,  that  David 
wrote  a  letter  to  Joab,  and  sent  it  by  the  hand  of 
Uriah.  And  he  wrote  in  the  letter,  saying,  Set 
ye  Uriah  in  the  forefront  of  the  hottest  battle, 
and  retire  ye  from  him,  that  he  may  be  smitten, 
and  die. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joab  observed  the 
city,  that  he  assigned  Uriah  unto  a  place  where 
he  knew  that  valiant  men  ivere.  And  the  men  of 
the  city  went  out,  and  fought  with  Joab ;  and  there 

210 


BIBLE  STORIES 

fell  some  of  the  people  of  the  servants  of  David; 
and  Uriah  the  Hittite  died  also. 

Then  Joab  sent  and  told  David  all  the  things 
concerning  the  war;  and  charged  the  messenger, 
saying,  When  thou  hast  made  an  end  of  telling 
the  matters  of  the  war  unto  the  king,  and  if  so 
be  that  the  king's  wrath  arise,  and  he  say  unto 
thee.  Wherefore  approached  ye  so  nigh  unto  the 
city  when  ye  did  fight?  knew  ye  not  that  they 
would  shoot  from  the  wall?  then  say  thou,  Thy 
servant  Uriah  the  Hittite  is  dead  also. 

So  the  messenger  went,  and  came  and  shewed 
David  all  that  Joab  had  sent  him  for.  And  the 
messenger  said  unto  David,  Surely  the  men  pre- 
vailed against  us,  and  came  out  unto  us  into  the 
field,  and  we  were  upon  them  even  unto  the  enter- 
ing of  the  gate.  And  the  shooters  shot  from  off 
the  wall  upon  thy  servants ;  and  some  of  the  king's 
servants  be  dead,  and  thy  servant  Uriah  the  Hit- 
tite is  dead  also. 

Then  David  said  unto  the  messenger.  Thus 
shalt  thou  say  unto  Joab,  Let  not  this  thing  dis- 
please thee,  for  the  sword  devoureth  one  as  well 
as  another :  make  thy  battle  more  strong  against 
the  city,  and  overthrow  it:  and  encourage  thou 
him. 

And  when  the  wife  of  Uriah  heard  that  Uriah 
her  husband  was  dead,  she  mourned  for  her  hus- 
band. And  when  the  mourning  was  past,  David 
sent  and  fetched  her  to  his  house,  and  she  became 
his  wife,  and  bare  him  a  son. 

211 


BIBLE  STORIES 

But  the  thing  that  David  had  done  displeased 
the  Lord. 


NATHAN'S  PAEABLE  OF  THE  EWE  LAMB 

(II.  Samuel  xii.  1-24) 

And  the  Lord  sent  Nathan  unto  David.  And 
he  came  unto  him,  and  said  unto  him,  There  were 
two  men  in  one  city;  the  one  rich,  and  the  other 
poor.  The  rich  man  had  exceeding  many  flocks 
and  herds:  But  the  poor  man  had  nothing,  save 
one  little  ewe  lamb,  which  he  had  bought  and 
nourished  up :  and  it  grew  up  together  with  him, 
and  with  his  children ;  it  did  eat  of  his  owm  meat, 
and  drank  of  his  o\vn  cup,  and  lay  in  his  bosom, 
and  was  unto  him  as  a  daughter.  And  there  came 
a  traveller  unto  the  rich  man,  and  he  spared  to 
take  of  his  own  flock  and  of  his  own  herd,  to  dress 
for  the  wayfaring  man  that  was  come  unto  him; 
but  took  the  poor  man's  lamb,  and  dressed  it  for 
the  man  that  was  come  to  him. 

And  David 's  anger  was  greatly  kindled  against 
the  man;  and  he  said  to  Nathan,  As  the  Lord 
liveth,  the  man  that  hath  done  this  thing  shall 
surely  die :  and  he  shall  restore  the  lamb  fourfold, 
because  he  did  this  thing,  and  because  he  had 
no  pity. 

And  Nathan  said  to  David,  Thou  art  the  man. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  I  anointed 
thee  king  over  Israel,  and  I  delivered  thee  out  of 
the  hand  of  Saul;     and  I  gave  thee  thy  master's 

212 


BIBLE  STORIES 

house,  and  gave  thee  the  house  of  Israel  and  of 
Judah;  and  if  tJiat  had  been  too  little,  I  would 
moreover  have  given  unto  thee  such  and  such 
things.  Wherefore  hast  thou  despised  the  com- 
mandment of  the  LoED,  to  do  evil  in  his  sight?  thou 
hast  killed  Uriah  the  Hittite  with  the  sword,  and 
hast  taken  his  wife  to  he  thy  wife,  and  hast  slain 
him  with  the  sword  of  the  children  of  Ammon. 
Now  therefore  the  sword  shall  never  depart  from 
thine  house;  because  thou  hast  despised  me,  and 
hast  taken  the  wife  of  Uriah  the  Hittite  to  be  thy 
wife. 

And  David  said  unto  Nathan,  I  have  sinned 
against  the  Loed. 

And  Nathan  said  unto  David,  The  Lord  also 
hath  put  away  thy  sin ;  thou  shalt  not  die.  How- 
beit,  because  by  this  deed  thou  hast  given  great 
occasion  to  the  enemies  of  the  Lord  to  blaspheme, 
the  child  also  that  is  born  unto  thee  shall  surely 
die.    And  Nathan  departed  unto  his  house. 

And  the  Lord  struck  the  child  that  Uriah 's  wife 
bare  unto  David,  and  it  was  very  sick.  David 
therefore  besought  God  for  the  child;  and  David 
fasted,  and  went  in,  and  lay  all  night  upon  the 
earth.  And  the  elders  of  his  house  arose,  and 
ivent  to  him,  to  raise  him  up  from  the  earth:  but 
he  would  not,  neither  did  he  eat  bread  with  them. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day,  that  the 
child  died.  And  the  servants  of  David  feared  to 
tell  him  that  the  child  was  dead:  for  they  said, 
Behold,  while  the  child  was  yet  alive,  we  spake 

213 


BIBLE  STORIES 

unto  him,  and  he  would  not  hearken  unto  our 
voice :  how  will  he  then  vex  himself,  if  we  tell  him 
that  the  child  is  dead?  But  when  David  saw  that 
his  servants  whispered,  David  perceived  that  the 
child  Avas  dead:  therefore  David  said  unto  his 
servants,  Is  the  child  dead?  And  they  said,  He 
is  dead.  Then  David  arose  from  the  earth,  and 
washed,  and  anointed  himself,  and  changed  his 
apparel,  and  came  into  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and 
worshipped :  then  he  came  to  his  own  house ;  and 
when  he  required,  they  set  bread  before  him,  and 
he  did  eat. 

Then  said  his  servants  unto  him.  What  thing 
is  this  that  thou  hast  done?  thou  didst  fast  and 
weep  for  the  child,  while  it  was  alive :  but  when 
the  child  was  dead,  thou  didst  rise  and  eat  bread. 

And  he  said,  AVhile  the  child  was  yet  alive,  I 
fasted  and  wept :  for  I  said.  Who  can  tell  whether 
God  will  be  gracious  to  me,  that  the  child  may  live  ? 
But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I  fast? 
can  I  bring  him  back  again?  I  shall  go  to  him, 
but  he  shall  not  return  to  me. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

THE  STORY  OF  ABSALOM 

(II.  Samuel  xiv.,  xv.,  xvi.,  xvii.,  xix.,  xx. ) 

JoAB  Procureth  Absalom's  Return 

•  So  Absalom  fled,  and  went  to  Geshur,  and  was 
there  three  years.  And  the  soul  of  king  David 
longed  to  go  forth  unto  Absalom: 

Now  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  perceived  that 
the  king's  heart  was  toward  Absalom, 

And  the  king  said  unto  Joab,  Behold  now,  I  have 
done  this  thing :  go  therefore,  bring  the  young  man 
Absalom  again.  And  Joab  fell  to  the  ground  on 
his  face,  and  bowed  himself,  and  thanked  the  king : 
and  Joab  said.  To-day  thy  servant  knoweth  that 
I  have  found  grace  in  thy  sight,  my  lord,  0  king,  in 
that  the  king  hath  fulfilled  the  request  of  his  ser- 
vant. 

So  Joab  arose  and  went  to  Geshur,  and  brought 
Absalom  to  Jerusalem.  And  the  king  said.  Let 
him  turn  to  his  own  house,  and  let  him  not  see 
my  face.  So  Absalom  returned  to  his  own  house, 
and  saw  not  the  king's  face. 

But  in  all  Israel  there  was  none  to  be  so  much 
praised  as  Absalom  for  his  beauty:  from  the  sole 
of  his  foot  even  to  the  crown  of  his  head  there 
was  no  blemish  in  him.  And  when  he  polled  his 
head,  (for  it  was  at  every  year's  end  that  he 
polled  it;  because  the  hair  was  heavy  on  him, 
therefore  he  polled  it:)  he  weighed  the  hair  of 
his  head  at  two  hundred  shekels  after  the  king's 

215 


BIBLE  STORIES 

weight.  And  unto  Absalom  there  were  born  three 
sons,  and  one  daughter,  whose  name  was  Tamar: 
she  was  a  woman  of  a  fair  countenance. 

So  Absalom  dwelt  two  full  years  in  Jerusalem, 
and  saw  not  the  king's  face.  Therefore  Absalom 
sent  for  Joab,  to  have  sent  him  to  the  king;  but 
he  would  not  come  to  him :  and  when  he  sent  again 
the  second  time,  he  would  not  come.  Therefore  he 
said  unto  his  servants,  See,  Joab's  field  is  near 
mine,  and  he  hath  barley  there;  go  and  set  it  on 
fire.  And  Absalom's  servants  set  the  field  on  fire. 
Then  Joab  arose,  and  came  to  Absalom  unto  Jiis 
house,  and  said  unto  him.  Wherefore  have  thy 
servants  set  my  field  on  fire?  And  Absalom 
answered  Joab,  Behold,  I  sent  unto  thee,  saying, 
Come  hither,  that  I  may  send  thee  to  the  king,  to 
say,  "Wherefore  am  I  come  from  Geshur?  it  had 
been  good  for  me  to  have  been  there  still:  now 
therefore  let  me  see  the  king's  face;  and  if  there 
be  any  iniquity  in  me,  let  him  kill  me.  So  Joab 
came  to  the  king,  and  told  him :  and  when  he  had 
called  for  Absalom,  he  came  to  the  king,  and 
bowed  himself  on  his  face  to  the  ground  before 
the  king :  and  the  king  kissed  Absalom. 

Absalom's  Treason  and  Rebellion 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  Absalom 
prepared  him  chariots  and  horses,  and  fifty  men 
to  run  before  him.  And  Absalom  rose  up  early, 
and  stood  beside  the  way  of  the  gate :  and  it  was 
so,  that  when  any  man  that  had  a  controversy 

216 


BIBLE  STORIES 

came  to  the  king  for  judgment,  then  Absalom 
called  unto  him,  and  said.  Of  what  city  art  thou? 
And  he  said,  Thy  servant  is  of  one  of  the  tribes 
of  Israel.  x\nd  Absalom  said  unto  him,  See,  thy 
matters  are  good  and  right;  but  there  is  no  man 
deputed  of  the  king  to  hear  thee.  Absalom  said 
moreover.  Oh  that  I  were  made  judge  in  the  land, 
that  every  man  which  hath  any  suit  or  cause  might 
come  unto  me,  and  I  would  do  him  justice !  And 
it  was  so,  that  when  any  man  came  nigh  to  him 
to  do  him  obeisance,  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and 
took  him,  and  kissed  him.  And  on  this  manner  did 
Absalom  to  all  Israel  that  came  to  the  king  for 
judgment :  so  Absalom  stole  the  hearts  of  the 
men  of  Israel. 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  forty  years,  that 
Absalom  said  unto  the  king,  I  pray  thee,  let  me 
go  and  pay  my  vow,  which  I  have  vowed  unto  the 
Lord,  in  Hebron.  For  thy  servant  vowed  a  vow 
while  I  abode  at  Geshur  in  Syria,  saying,  If  the 
Lord  shall  bring  rne  again  indeed  to  Jerusalem, 
then  I  will  serve  the  Lord.  And  the  king  said  unto 
him,  Go  in  peace.  So  he  arose,  and  went  to 
Hebron. 

But  Absalom  sent  spies  throughout  all  the 
tribes  of  Israel,  sayings  As  soon  as  ye  hear  the 
sound  of  the  trumpet,  then  ye  shall  say,  Absalom 
reigneth  in  Hebron.  And  with  Absalom  went  two 
hundred  men  out  of  Jerusalem,  that  were  called; 
and  they  went  in  their  simplicity,  and  they  knew 
not  any  thing.  And  Absalom  sent  for  Ahithophel 

217 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  Gilonite,  David's  counsellor,  from  his  city, 
even  from  Giloh,  while  he  offered  sacrifices.  And 
the  conspiracy  was  strong ;  for  the  people  in- 
creased continually  with  Absalom. 

David's  Flight 

And  there  came  a  messenger  to  David,  saying, 
The  hearts  of  the  men  of  Israel  are  after  Absalom. 
And  David  said  unto  all  his  servants  that  were 
with  him  at  Jerusalem,  Arise,  and  let  us  flee ;  for 
we  shall  not  else  escape  from  Absalom:  make 
speed  to  depart,  lest  he  overtake  us  suddenly,  and 
bring  evil  upon  us,  and  smite  the  city  with  the 
edge  of  the  sword.  And  the  king's  servants  said 
unto  the  king.  Behold,  thy  servants  are  ready  to  do 
whatsoever  my  lord  the  king  shall  appoint. 

And  the  king  went  forth,  and  all  his  household 
after  him.  And  the  king  went  forth,  and  all  the 
people  after  him,  and  tarried  in  a  place  that  was 
far  off. 

And  all  the  country  wept  with  a  loud  voice,  and 
all  the  people  passed  over :  the  king  also  himself 
passed  over  the  brook  Kidron,  and  all  the  people 
passed  over,  toward  the  way  of  the  wilderness. 

And  David  went  up  by  the  ascent  of  mount 
Olivet,  and  wept  as  he  went  up,  and  had  his  head 
covered,  and  he  went  barefoot :  and  all  the  people 
that  2vas  with  him  covered  every  man  his  head, 
and  they  went  up,  weeping  as  they  went  up. 
And  one  told  David,  saying,  Ahithophel  is 
among  the  conspirators  with  Absalom.  And  David 

218 


BIBLE  STORIES 

said,  0  Lord,  I  pray  thee,  turn  the  counsel  of 
Ahithophel  into  foolishness. 

Then  David  arose,  and  all  the  people  that  ivere 
with  him,  and  they  passed  over  Jordan:  by  the 
morning  light  there  lacked  not  one  of  them  that 
was  not  gone  over  Jordan. 

Absalom  Defeated  and  Slain 

And  Absalom  met  the  servants  of  David.  And 
Absalom  rode  upon  a  mule,  and  the  mule  went 
under  the  thick  boughs  of  a  great  oak,  and  his 
head  caught  hold  of  the  oak,  and  he  was  taken  up 
between  the  heaven  and  the  earth;  and  the  mule 
that  ivas  under  him  went  away.  And  a  certain 
man  saw  it,  and  told  Joab,  and  said.  Behold,  I 
saw  Absalom  hanged  in  an  oak. 

And  Joab  said  unto  the  man  that  told  him,  And, 
behold,  thou  sawest  him,  and  why  didst  thou  not 
smite  him  there  to  the  ground?  and  I  would  have 
given  thee  ten  shekels  of  silver,  and  a  girdle. 

And  the  man  said  unto  Joab,  Though  I  should 
receive  a  thousand  shekels  of  silver  in  mine  hand, 
yet  would  I  not  put  forth  mine  hand  against  the 
king's  son:  for  in  our  hearing  the  king  charged 
thee  and  Abishai  and  Ittai,  saying.  Beware  that 
none  touch  the  young  man  Absalom.  Otherwise 
I  should  have  wrought  falsehood  against  mine 
own  life :  for  there  is  no  matter  hid  from  the  king, 
and  thou  thyself  wouldest  have  set  thyself 
against  me. 

Then  said  Joab,  I  may  not  tarry  thus  with  thee. 
219 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  he  took  three  darts  in  his  hand,  and  thrust 
them  through  the  heart  of  Absalom,  while  he  was 
yet  alive  in  the  midst  of  the  oak.  And  ten  young 
men  that  bare  Joab's  armour  compassed  about 
and  smote  Absalom,  and  slew  him. 

And  Joab  blew  the  trumpet,  and  the  people 
returned  from  pursuing  after  Israel:  for  Joab 
held  back  the  people.  And  they  took  Absalom, 
and  cast  him  into  a  great  pit  in  the  wood,  and  laid 
a  very  great  heap  of  stones  upon  him:  and  all 
Israel  fled  every  one  to  his  tent. 

Now  Absalom  in  his  lifetime  had  taken  and 
reared  up  for  himself  a  pillar,  which  is  in  the 
king's  dale :  for  he  said,  I  have  no  son  to  keep  my 
iiame  in  remembrance:  and  he  called  the  pillar 
after  his  own  name :  and  it  is  called  unto  tliis  day, 
Absalom's  place. 

David  Mourneth  for  Absalom 

And  David  sat  between  the  two  gates :  and  the 
watchman  went  up  to  the  roof  over  the  gate  unto 
the  wall,  and  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  looked,  and 
behold  a  man  running  alone.  And  the  watchman 
cried,  and  told  the  king.  And  the  king  said,  If  he 
he  alone,  there  is  tidings  in  his  mouth.  And  he 
came  apace,  and  drew  near.  And  the  watchman 
saw  another  man  running:  and  the  watchman 
called  unto  the  porter,  and  said,  Behold  another 
man  running  alone.  And  the  king  said.  He  also 
bringeth  tidings.  And  the  watchman  said.  Me 
thinketh  the  running  of  the  foremost  is  like  the 

220 


BIBLE  STORIES 

running  of  Ahimaaz  the  son  of  Zadok.  And  the 
king  said,  He  is  a  good  man,  and  cometh  with  good 
tidings. 

And  Ahimaaz  called,  and  said  nnto  the  king.  All 
is  well.  And  he  fell  down  to  the  earth  upon  his 
face  before  the  king,  and  said,  Blessed  he  the  Lord 
thy  God,  which  hath  delivered  up  the  men  that 
lifted  up  their  hand  against  my  lord  the  king. 

And  the  king  said.  Is  the  young  man  Absalom 
safe? 

And  Ahimaaz  answered.  When  Joab  sent  the 
king's  servant,  and  me  thy  servant,  I  saw  a  great 
tumult,  but  I  knew  not  what  it  ivas. 

And  the  king  said  unto  Mm,  Turn  aside,  and 
stand  here.  And  he  turned  aside,  and  stood  still. 
And,  behold,  Cushi  came ;  and  Cushi  said.  Tidings, 
my  lord  the  king :  for  the  Lord  hath  avenged  thee 
this  day  of  all  them  that  rose  up  against  thee. 

And  the  king  said  unto  Cushi,  Is  the  young  man 
Absalom  safe? 

And  Cushi  answered,  The  enemies  of  my  lord 
the  king,  and  all  that  rise  against  thee  to  do  thee 
hurt,  be  as  that  young  man  is. 

And  the  king  was  much  moved,  and.  went  up 
to  the  chamber  over  the  gate,  and  wept :  and  as 
he  went,  thus  he  said,  0  my  son  Absalom!  my 
son,  my  son  Absalom!  would  God  I  had  died  for 
thee,  0  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son! 

And  it  was  told  Joab,  Behold,  the  king  weepeth 
and  mourneth  for  Absalom.  And  the  victory  that 
day  was  turned  into  mourning  unto  all  the  people : 

221 


BIBLE  STORIES 

for  the  people  heard  say  that  day  how  the  king 
was  grieved  for  his  son.  And  the  people  gat 
them  by  stealth  that  day  into  the  city,  as  people 
being  ashamed  steal  away  when  they  flee  in  battle. 
But  the  king  covered  his  face,  and  the  king  cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  0  my  son  Absalom !  0  Absalom, 
my  son,  my  son ! 


RIZPAH'S   CARE  FOR   THE  DEAD 

(II.  Samuel  xxi.  1-14) 

Then  there  was  a  famine  in  the  days  of  David 
three  years,  year  after  year ;  and  David  inquired 
of  the  Lord.  And  the  Lord  answered,  It  is  for 
Saul,  and  for  his  bloody  house,  because  he  slew 
the  Gibeonites. 

And  the  king  called  the  Gibeonites,  and  said 
unto  them :  What  shall  I  do  for  you  ?  and  where- 
with shall  I  make  the  atonement,  that  ye  may  bless 
the  inheritance  of  the  Lord? 

And  the  Gibeonites  said  unto  him,  We  will  have 
no  silver  nor  gold  of  Saul,  nor  of  his  house; 
neither  for  us  shalt  thou  kill  any  man  in  Israel. 
And  he  said,  What  ye  shall  say,  that  will  I  do 
for  you.  And  they  answered  the  king.  The  man 
that  consumed  us,  and  that  devised  against  us 
that  we  should  be  destroyed  from  remaining  in 
any  of  the  coasts  of  Israel.  Let  seven  men  of  his 
sons  be  delivered  unto  us,  and  we  will  hang  them 
up  unto  the  Lord  iij  Gibeah  of  Saul,  whom  the 

999 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Lord  did  choose.  And  the  king  said,  I  will  give 
them. 

But  the  king  spared  Mephibosheth,  the  son  of 
Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul,  because  of  the  Lord's 
oath  that  ivas  between  them,  between  David  and 
Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul.  But  the  king  took  the 
two  sons  of  Rizpah  and  the  five  sons  of  Michal  the 
daughter  of  Saul,  and  he  delivered  them  into  the 
hands  of  the  Gibeonites,  and  they  hanged  them  in 
the  hill  before  the  Lord:  and  they  fell  all  seven 
together,  and  were  put  to  death  in  the  days  of 
harvest,  in  the  first  days,  in  the  beginning  of  bar- 
ley harvest. 

And  Rizpah  the  daughter  of  Aiah  took  sack- 
cloth, and  spread  it  for  her  upon  the  rock,  from 
the  beginning  of  harvest  until  water  dropped  upon 
them  out  of  heaven,  and  suffered  neither  the  birds 
of  the  air  to  rest  on  them  by  day,  nor  the  beasts 
of  the  field  by  night. 

And  it  was  told  David  what  Rizpah  the  daughter 
of  Aiah  had  done.  And  David  went  and  took  the 
bones  of  Saul  and  the  bones  of  Jonathan  his  son 
from  the  men  of  Jabeshgilead,  which  had  stolen 
them  from  the  street  of  Beth-shan,  where  the 
Philistines  had  hanged  them,  when  the  Philistines 
had  slain  Saul  in  Gilboa :  and  he  brought  up  from 
thence  the  bones  of  Saul  and  the  bones  of  Jona- 
than his  son ;  and  they  gathered  the  bones  of  them 
that  were  hanged.  And  the  bones  of  Saul  and 
Jonathan  his  son  buried  they  in  the  country  of 
Benjamin  in  Zelah,  in  the  sepulchre  of  Kish  his 

223 


BIBLE  STORIES 

father :  and  they  performed  all  that  the  king  com- 
manded. And  after  that  God  was  entreated  for 
the  land. 

GIANT  WITH  SIX  FINGERS  AND  SIX  TOES 

(II.  Samuel  xxi.  15-22) 

Moreover  the  Philistines  had  yet  war  again  with 
Israel;  and  David  went  down,  and  his  servants 
with  him,  and  fought  agjiinst  the  Philistines :  and 
David  waxed  faint.  And  Ishbi-benob,  which  ivas 
of  the  sons  of  the  giant,  the  weight  of  whose  spear 
weighed  three  hundred  shekels  of  brass  in  weight, 
he  being  girded  with  a  now  sword,  thought  to  have 
filain  David.  But  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  suc- 
coured him,  and  smote  the  Philistine,  and  killed 
him.  Then  the  men  of  David  sware  unto  him,  say- 
ing, Thou  shalt  go  no  more  out  with  us  to  battle, 
that  thou  quench  not  the  light  of  Israel. 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  there  was 
again  a  battle  with  the  Philistines  at  Gob:  then 
Sibbechai  the  Hushathile  slew  Saph,  which  ivas 
of  the  sons  of  the  giant. 

And  there  was  again  a  battle  in  Gob  with  the 
Philistines,  where  Elhanan,  a  Beth-lehemite,  slew 
the  brother  of  Goliath  the  Gittite,  the  staff  of  whose 
spear  was  like  a  weaver's  beam. 

And  there  was  yet  a  battle  in  Gath,  where  was  a 
man  of  great  stature,  that  had  on  every  hand  six 
fingers,  and  on  every  foot  six  toes,  four  and  twenty 
in  number ;  and  he  also  was  born  to  the  giant.  And 

224 


BIBLE  STORIES 

when  lie  defied  Israel,  Jonathan  the  son  of  Shi- 
meah  the  brother  of  David  sleAv  him. 

These  four  were  born  to  the  giant  in  Gath,  and 
fell  by  the  hand  of  David,  and  by  the  hand  of  his 
servants. 

THE  CAVE  OF  ADULLAM 

(II.  kSamuel  xxiii.  13-17) 

And  three  of  the  thirty  chief  went  down,  and 
came  to  David  in  the  harvest  time  unto  the  cave 
of  Adullam:  and  the  troop  of  the  Philistines 
pitched  in  the  valley  of  Rephaim.  And  David  was 
then  in  a  hold,  and  the  garrison  of  the  Philistines 
was  then  i)i  Bethlehem.  And  David  longed,  and 
said.  Oh  that  one  would  give  me  drink  of  the 
water  of  the  well  of  Bethlehem,  which  is  by  the 
gate  !  And  the  three  mighty  men  brake  through  the 
host  of  the  Philistines,  and  drew  water  out  of  the 
well  of  Bethlehem,  that  was  by  the  gate,  and  took 
it,  and  brought  it  to  David :  nevertheless  he  would 
not  drink  thereof,  but  poured  it  out  unto  the  Lord. 
And  he  said.  Be  it  far  from  me,  0  Lord,  that  I 
should  do  this:  is  not  this  the  blood  of  the  men 
that  went  in  jeopardy  of  their  lives!  therefore  he 
would  not  drink  it.  These  things  did  these  three 
mighty  men. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

SOLOMON  JUDGES  WISELY 

(I.  Kings  iii.  16-28) 

Then  came  there  two  women  unto  the  king,  and 
stood  before  him.  And  the  one  woman  said,  0  my 
lord,  I  and  this  woman  dwell  in  one  house ;  and  I 
was  delivered  of  a  child  with  her  in  the  house.  And 
it  came  to  pass  the  third  day  after  that  I  was  deliv- 
ered, that  this  woman  was  delivered  also :  and  we 
were  together;  there  was  no  stranger  with  us  in 
the  house,  save  we  two  in  the  house.  And  this 
woman 's  child  died  in  the  night ;  because  she  over- 
laid it.  And  she  arose  at  midnight,  and  took  my 
son  from  beside  me,  while  thine  handmaid  slept, 
and  laid  it  in  her  bosom,  and  laid  her  dead  child 
in  my  bosom.  And  when  I  rose  in  the  morning  to 
give  my  child  suck,  behold,  it  was  dead :  but  when 
I  had  considered  it  in  the  morning,  behold,  it  was 
not  my  son,  which  I  did  bear. 

And  the  other  woman  said.  Nay;  but  the  living 
is  my  son,  and  the  dead  is  thy  son.  And  this  said, 
No ;  but  the  dead  is  thy  son,  and  the  living  is  my 
son.    Thus  they  spake  before  the  king. 

Then  said  the  king.  The  one  saith.  This  is  my 
son  that  liveth,  and  thy  son  is  the  dead:  and  the 
other  saith,  Nay :  but  thy  son  is  the  dead,  and  my 
son  is  the  living.  And  the  king  said.  Bring  me  a 
sword.  And  they  brought  a  sword  before  the 
king.  And  the  king  said.  Divide  the  living  child  in 
two,  and  give  half  to  the  one,  and  half  to  the  other. 

226 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Then  spake  the  woman  whose  the  living  child 
ivas  unto  the  king,  for  her  bowels  yearned  upon 
her  son.  and  she  said,  0  my  lord,  give  her  the  liv- 
ing child,  and  in  no  wise  slay  it.  But  the  other 
said.  Let  it  be  neither  mine  nor  thine,  hut  divide  it. 
Then  the  king  answered  and  said.  Give  her  the 
living  child,  and  in  no  wise  slay  it:  she  is  the 
mother  thereof. 

And  all  Israel  heard  of  the  judgment  which  the 
king  had  judged;  and  they  feared  the  king:  for 
they  saw  that  the  wisdom  of  God  was  in  him,  to  do 
judgment. 

THE  QUEEN  OF  SHEBA 

(I.  Kings  X.  1-13) 

And  when  the  queen  of  Sheba  heard  of  the  fame 
of  Solomon  concerning  the  name  of  the  Lord,  she 
came  to  prove  him  with  hard  questions.  And  she 
came  to  Jerusalem  with  a  very  great  train,  with 
camels  that  bare  spices,  and  very  much  gold,  and 
precious  stones :  and  when  she  was  come  to  Solo- 
mon, she  communed  with  him  of  all  that  was  in 
her  heart.  And  Solomon  told  her  all  her  ques- 
tions :  there  was  not  any  thing  hid  from  the  king, 
which  he  told  her  not. 

And  when  the  queen  of  Sheba  had  seen  all  Solo- 
mon's wisdom,  and  the  house  that  he  had  built, 
and  the  meat  of  his  table,  and  the  sitting  of  his 
servants,  and  the  attendance  of  his  ministers,  and 
their  apparel,  and  his  cupbearers,  and  his  ascent 

229 


BIBLE  STORIES 


Fig.  21. — Solomon  and  the  Queen  of  Sheba. 
Raphael.    Loggia,  Vatican,  Rome. 

by  which  he  went  up  unto  the  house  of  the  Lord  ; 
there  was  no  more  spirit  in  her.  And  she  said  to 
the  king,  It  was  a  true  report  that  I  heard  in  mine 
own  land  of  thy  acts  and  of  thy  wisdom.  Howbeit 
I  beheved  not  the  words,  until  I  came,  and  mine 
eyes  had  seen  it;  and,  behold,  the  half  was  not  told 
me:  thy  wisdom  and  prosperity  exceedeth  the 
fame  which  I  heard.  Happy  are  thy  men,  happy 
are  these  thy  servants,  which  stand  continually 
before  thee,  and  that  hear  thy  wisdom.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  delighted  in  thee,  to 

230 


BIBLE  STORIES 

set  thee  on  the  throne  of  Israel :  because  the  Lord 
loved  Israel  for  ever,  therefore  made  he  thee 
king,  to  do  judgment  and  justice. 

And  she  gave  the  king  a  hundred  and  twenty 
talents  of  gold,  and  of  spices  very  great  store,  and 
precious  stones :  there  came  no  more  such  abun- 
dance of  spices  as  these  which  the  queen  of  Sheba 
gave  to  king  Solomon. 

And  the  navy  also  of  Hiram,  that  brought  gold 
from  Ophir,  brought  in  from  Ophir  great  plenty 
of  almug  trees,  and  precious  stones.  And  the  king 
made  of  the  almug  trees  pillars  for  the  house  of 
the  Lord,  and  for  the  king's  house,  harps  also  and, 
psalteries  for  singers :  there  came  no  such  almug 
trees,  nor  were  seen  unto  this  day. 

And  king  Solomon  gave  unto  the  queen  of  Sheba 
all  her  desire,  whatsoever  she  asked,  besides  that 
which  Solomon  gave  her  of  his  royal  bounty.  So 
she  turned  and  went  to  her  own  country,  she  and 
her  servants. 

THE  DISOBEDIENT  PROPHET 

(I.  Kingsxiii.  1-32) 

And,  behold,  there  came  a  man  of  God  out  of 
Judah  by  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto  Bethel:  and 
Jeroboam  stood  by  the  altar  to  burn  incense.  And 
he  cried  against  the  altar  in  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
and  said,  O  altar,  altar,  thus  saith  the  Lord;  Be- 
hold, a  child  shall  be  born  unto  the  house  of  David, 
Josiah  by  name ;  and  upon  thee  shall  he  offer  the 

231 


BIBLE  STORIES 

priests  of  the  high  places  tliat  burn  incense  upon 
thee,  and  men's  bones  shall  be  burnt  upon  thee. 
And  he  gave  a  sign  the  same  day,  saying,  This  is 
the  sign  whicl;  the  Lord  hath  spoken ;  Behold,  the 
altar  shall  be  rent,  and  the  ashes  that  are  upon  it 
shall  be  poured  out. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  king  Jeroboam  heard 
the  saying  of  the  man  of  God,  which  had  cried 
against  the  altar  in  Bethel,  that  he  put  forth  his 
hand  from  the  altar,  saying,  Lay  hold  on  him. 
And  his  hand,  which  he  put  forth  against  him, 
dried  up,  so  that  he  could  not  pull  it  in  again  to 
him.  The  altar  also  was  rent,  and  the  ashes 
poured  out  from  the  altar,  according  to  the  sign 
which  the  man  of  God  had  given  by  the  word  of 
the  Lord. 

And  the  king  answered  and  said  unto  the  man 
of  God,  Intreat  now  the  face  of  the  Lord  thy  God, 
and  pray  for  me,  that  my  hand  may  be  restored 
me  again.  And  the  man  of  God  besought  the  Lord, 
and  the  king's  hand  was  restored  him  again,  and 
became  as  it  was  before. 

And  the  king  said  unto  the  man  of  God,  Come 
home  with  me,  and  refresh  thyself,  and  I  will  give 
thee  a  reward.  And  the  man  of  God  said  unto  the 
king.  If  thou  wilt  give  me  half  thine  house,  I  will 
not  go  in  with  thee,  neither  will  I  eat  bread  nor 
drink  water  in  this  place :  for  so  was  it  charged 
me  by  the  word  of  the  Lord,  saying.  Eat  no  bread, 
nor  drink  water,  nor  turn  again  by  the  same  way 
that  thou  earnest.     So  he  went  another  way,  and 

232 


BIBLE  STORIES 

returned  not  by  the  way  that  he  came  to  Bethel. 

Now  there  dwelt  an  old  prophet  in  Bethel ;  and 
his  sons  came  and  told  him  all  the  works  that  the 
man  of  God  had  done  that  day  in  Bethel :  the  words 
which  he  had  spoken  unto  the  king,  them  they  told 
also  to  their  father.  And  their  father  said  unto 
them,  What  way  went  he?  For  his  sons  had  seen 
what  way  the  man  of  God  went,  which  came  from 
Judah.  And  he  said  unto  his  sons,  Saddle  me  the 
ass.  So  they  saddled  him  the  ass:  and  he  rode 
thereon,  and  went  after  the  man  of  God,  and  found 
him  sitting  under  an  oak:  and  he  said  unto  him, 
Art  thou  the  man  of  God  that  earnest  from  Judah? 
And  he  said,  I  am. 

Then  he  said  unto  him,  Come  home  with  me,  and 
eat  bread. 

And  he  said,  I  may  not  return  with  thee,  nor  go 
in  with  thee:  neither  will  I  eat  bread  nor  drink 
water  with  thee  in  this  place :  for  it  was  said  to  me 
by  the  word  of  the  Lord,  Thou  shalt  eat  no  bread 
nor  drink  water  there,  nor  turn  again  to  go  by  the 
way  that  thou  camest. 

He  said  unto  him,  I  am  a  prophet  also  as  thou 
art;  and  an  angel  spake  unto  me  by  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  saying.  Bring  him  back  with  thee  into 
thine  house,  that  he  may  eat  bread  and  drink 
water.    But  he  lied  unto  him. 

So  he  went  back  with  him,  and  did  eat  bread  in 
his  house,  and  drank  water. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  sat  at  the  table, 
that  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  the  prophet 

233 


BIBLE  STORIES 

that  brought  him  back :  and  he  cried  unto  the  man 
of  God  that  came  froni  Judah,  saying,  Thus  saith 
the  Lord,  Forasmuch  as  thou  hast  disobeyed  the 
mouth  of  the  Lord,  and  hast  not  kept  the  com- 
mandment which  the  Lord  thy  God  commanded 
thee,  but  camest  back,  and  hast  eaten  bread  and 
drunk  water  in  the  place,  of  the  which  the  Lord 
did  say  to  thee.  Eat  no  bread,  and  drink  no  water ; 
thy  carcass  shall  not  come  unto  the  sepulchre  of 
thy  fathers. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  after  he  had  eaten  bread, 
and  after  he  had  drunk,  that  he  saddled  for  him  the 
ass,  to  wit,  for  the  prophet  whom  he  had  brought 
back.  And  when  he  was  gone,  a  lion  met  him  by 
the  way,  and  slew  him :  and  his  carcass  was  cast  in 
the  way,  and  the  ass  stood  by  it,  the  lion  also  stood 
by  the  carcass.  And,  behold,  men  passed  by,  and 
saw  the  carcass  cast  in  the  way,  and  the  lion  stand- 
ing by  the  carcass :  and  they  came  and  told  it  in 
the  city  where  the  old  prophet  dwelt.  And  when 
the  prophet  that  brought  him  back  from  the  way 
heard  thereof,  he  said,  It  is  the  man  of  God,  who 
was  disobedient  unto  the  word  of  the  Lord  :  there- 
fore the  Lord  hath  delivered  him  unto  the  lion, 
which  hath  torn  him,  and  slain  him,  according  to 
the  word  of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake  unto  him. 
And  he  spake  to  his  sons,  saying,  Saddle  me  the 
ass.  And  they  saddled  him.  And  he  went  and 
found  his  carcass  cast  in  the  way,  and  the  ass  and 
the  lion  standing  by  the  carcass :  the  lion  had  not 
eaten  the  carcass,  nor  torn  the  ass.      And  the 

234 


BIBLE  STORIES 

prophet  took  up  the  carcass  of  the  man  of  God, 
and  laid  it  upon  the  ass,  and  brought  it  back :  and 
the  old  prophet  came  to  the  city,  to  mourn  and  to 
bury  him.  And  he  laid  his  carcass  in  his  own 
grave ;  and  they  mourned  over  him,  saying,  Alas, 
my  brother ! 

And  it  came  to  pass,  after  he  had  buried  him, 
that  he  spake  to  his  sons,  saying,  WJien  I  am  dead, 
then  bury  me  in  the  sepulchre  wherein  the  man  of 
God  is  buried ;  lay  my  bones  beside  his  bones :  for 
the  saj'ing  which  he  cried  by  the  word  of  the  Lord 
against  the  altar  in  Bethel,  and  against  all  the 
houses  of  the  high  places  which  are  in  the  cities  of 
Samaria,  shall  surely  come  to  pass. 

ELIJAH  FED  BY  RAVENS 

(I.  Kingsxvii.  1-24) 

And  Elijah  the  Tishbite,  tvJio  ivas  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Gilead,  said  unto  Ahab,  As  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel  liveth,  before  whom  I  stand,  there 
shall  not  be  dew  nor  rain  these  years,  but  accord- 
ing to  my  word. 

And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  him,  say- 
ing. Get  thee  hence,  and  turn  thee  eastward,  and 
hide  thyself  by  the  brook  Cherith,  that  is  before 
Jordan.  And  it  shall  be,  that  thou  shalt  drink  of 
the  brook;  and  I  have  commanded  the  ravens  to 
feed  thee  there. 

So  he  went  and  did  according  unto  the  word  of 
the  Lord:  for  he  went  and  dwelt  by  the  brook 

235 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Cherith,  that  is  before  Jordan.  And  the  ravens 
brought  him  bread  and  flesh  in  the  morning,  and 
bread  and  flesh  in  the  evening;  and  he  drank  of 
the  brook. 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  a  while,  that  the  brook 
dried  up,  because  there  had  been  no  rain  in  the 
land.  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  him, 
saying,  Arise,  get  thee  to  Zarephath,  which  he- 
longeth  to  Zidon,  and  dwell  there:  behold,  I  have 
commanded  a  widow  woman  there  to  sustain  thee. 

So  he  arose  and  went  to  Zarephath.  And  when 
he  came  to  the  gate  of  the  city,  behold,  the  widow 
woman  was  there  gathering  of  sticks :  and  he 
called  to  her,  and  said.  Fetch  me,  I  pray  thee,  a 
little  water  in  a  vessel,  that  I  may  drink.  And  as 
she  was  going  to  fetch  it,  he  called  to  her,  and  said, 
Bring  me,  I  pray  thee,  a  morsel  of  bread  in  thine 
hand. 

And  she  said.  As  the  Lord  thy  God  liveth,  I 
have  not  a  cake,  but  an  handful  of  meal  in  a  barrel, 
and  a  little  oil  in  a  cruse :  and,  behold,  I  am  gath- 
ering two  sticks,  that  I  may  go  in  and  dress  it  for 
me  and  my  son,  that  we  may  eat  it,  and  die. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  her.  Fear  not;  go  and  do 
as  thou  hast  said:  but  make  me  thereof  a  little 
cake  first,  and  bring  it  unto  me,  and  after  make 
for  thee  and  for  thy  son.  For  thus  saitli  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  The  barrel  of  meal  shall  not  waste, 
neither  shall  the  cruse  of  oil  fail,  until  the  day 
that  the  Lord  sendeth  rain  upon  the  earth. 

And  she  went  and  did  according  to  the  saying  of 
236 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Elijah:  and  she,  and  he,  and  her  house,  did  eat 
many  days.  And  the  barrel  of  meal  wasted  not, 
neither  did  the  cruse  of  oil  fail,  according  to  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake  by  Elijah. 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things,  that  the 
son  of  the  woman,  the  mistress  of  the  house,  fell 
sick ;  and  his  sickness  was  so  sore,  that  there  was 
no  breath  left  in  him.  And  she  said  unto  Elijah, 
What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  0  thou  man  of  God? 
art  thou  come  unto  me  to  call  my  sin  to  remem- 
brance, and  to  slay  my  son? 

And  he  said  unto  her.  Give  me  thy  son.  And  he 
took  him  out  of  her  bosom,  and  carried  him  up 
into  a  loft,  where  he  abode,  and  laid  him  upon  his 
own  bed.  And  he  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  said, 
0  Lord  my  God,  hast  thou  also  brought  evil  upon 
the  widow  with  whom  I  sojourn,  by  slaying  her 
son?  And  he  stretched  himself  upon  the  child 
three  times,  and  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  said,  O 
Lord  my  God,  I  pray  thee,  let  this  child 's  soul 
come  into  him  again. 

And  the  Lord  heard  the  voice  of  Elijah ;  and  the 
soul  of  the  child  came  into  him  again,  and  he 
revived.  And  Elijah  took  the  child,  and  brought 
him  down  out  of  the  chamber  into  the  house,  and 
delivered  him  unto  his  mother:  and  Elijah  said. 
See,  thy  son  liveth.  And  the  woman  said  to  Eli- 
jah, Now  by  this  I  know  that  thou  art  a  man  of 
God,  and  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  in  thy  mouth 
is  truth. 


237 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ELIJAH  AND  THE  PRIESTS  OF  BAAL 

(I.  Kingsxviii.  1-46) 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  many  days,  that  the 
word  of  the  Lord  came  to  Elijah  in  the  third  year, 
saying,  Go,  shew  thyself  unto  Ahab;  and  I  will 
send  rain  upon  the  earth.  And  Elijah  went  to 
shew  himself  unto  Ahab. 

And  there  was  a  sore  famine  in  Samaria.  And 
Ahab  called  Obadiah,  which  was  the  governor  of 
his  house.  (Now  Obadiah  feared  the  Lord  great- 
ly :  for  it  was  so,  when  Jezebel  cut  off  the  prophets 
of  the  Lord,  that  Obadiah  took  an  hundred  proph- 
ets, and  hid  them  by  fifty  in  a  cave,  and  fed 
them  with  bread  and  water.)  And  Ahab  said  unto 
Obadiah,  Go  into  the  land,  unto  all  fountains  of 
water,  and  unto  all  brooks :  peradventure  we  may 
find  grass  to  save  the  horses  and  mules  alive,  that 
we  lose  not  all  the  beasts.  So  they  divided  the 
land  between  them  to  pass  throughout  it:  Ahab 
went  one  way  by  himself,  and  Obadiah  went  an- 
other way  by  himself. 

And  as  Obadiah  was  in  the  way,  behold,  Elijah 
met  him:  and  he  knew  him,  and  fell  on  his  face, 
and  said.  Art  thou  that  my  lord  Elijah? 

And  he  answered  him,  I  am:  go,  tell  thy  lord, 
Behold,  Elijah  is  here. 

And  he  said.  What  have  I  sinned,  that  thou 
wouldest  deliver  thy  servant  into  the  land  of  Ahab, 
to  slay  me?     ^45  the  Lord  thy  God  liveth,  there 

238 


BIBLE  STORIES 

is  no  nation  or  kingdom,  whither  my  lord  hath 
not  sent  to  seek  thee :  and  when  they  said,  He  is 
not  there;  he  took  an  oath  of  the  kingdom  and  na- 
tion, that  they  found  thee  not.  And  now  thou  say- 
est.  Go,  tell  thy  lord.  Behold,  Elijah  is  here.  And 
it  shall  come  to  pass,  as  soon  as  I  am  gone  from 
thee,  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  carry  thee 
whither  I  know  not ;  and  so  when  I  come  and  tell 
Ahab,  and  he  cannot  find  thee,  he  shall  slay  me: 
but  I  thy  servant  fear  the  Lord  from  my  youth. 
Was  it  not  told  my  lord  what  I  did  when  Jezebel 
slew  the  prophets  of  the  Lord,  how  I  hid  an  hun- 
dred men  of  the  Lord  's  prophets  by  fifty  in  a  cave, 
and  fed  them  with  bread  and  water?  And  now 
thou  sayest.  Go,  tell  thy  lord.  Behold,  Elijah  is 
here:  and  he  shall  slay  me. 

And  Elijah  said,  As  the  Lord  of  hosts  liveth, 
before  whom  I  stand,  I  will  surely  shew  myself 
unto  him  to  day. 

So  Obadiah  went  to  meet  Ahab,  and  told  him: 
and  Ahab  went  to  meet  Elijah.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  when  Ahab  saw  Elijah,  that  Ahab  said  unto 
him.  Art  thou  he  that  troubleth  Israel? 

And  he  answered,  I  have  not  troubled  Israel; 
but  thou,  and  thy  father's  house,  in  that  ye  have 
forsaken  the  commandments  of  the  Lord,  and  thou 
hast  followed  Baalim.  Now  therefore  send,  and 
gather  to  me  all  Israel  unto  mount  Carmel,  and 
the  prophets  of  Baal  four  hundred  and  fifty,  and 
the  prophets  of  the  groves  four  hundred,  which 
eat  at  Jezebel's  table. 

239 


BIBLE  STORIES 

So  Aliab  sent  unto  all  the  children  of  Israel, 
and  gathered  the  prophets  together  unto  mount 
Carmel. 

And  Elijah  came  unto  all  the  people,  and  said, 
How  long  halt  ye  between  two  opinions?  If  the 
Lord  he  God,  follow  him:  but  if  Baal,  then  follow 
him.    And  the  people  answered  him  not  a  word. 

Then  said  Elijah  unto  the  people,  I,  even  I  only, 
remain  a  prophet  of  the  Lord  ;  but  Baal's  prophets 
are  four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Let  them  there- 
fore give  us  two  bullocks ;  and  let  them  choose  one 
bullock  for  themselves,  and  cut  it  in  pieces,  and 
lay  it  on  wood,  and  put  no  fire  under:  and  I  will 
dress  the  other  bullock,  and  lay  it  on  wood,  and 
put  no  fire  under:  and  call  ye  on  the  name  of  your 
gods,  and  I  will  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  and 
the  God  that  answereth  by  fire,  let  him  be  God. 

And  all  the  people  answered  and  said.  It  is  well 
spoken. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  the  prophets  of  Baal, 
Choose  you  one  bullock  for  yourselves,  and  dress 
it  first;  for  ye  are  many;  and  call  on  the  name  of 
your  gods,  but  put  no  fire  under.  And  they  took 
the  bullock  which  was  given  them,  and  they 
dressed  it,  and  called  on  the  name  of  Baal  from 
morning  even  until  noon,  saying,  0  Baal,  hear  us. 
But  there  was  no  voice,  nor  any  that  answered. 
And  they  leaped  upon  the  altar  which  was  made. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  noon,  that  Elijah  mocked 
them,  and  said,  Cry  aloud :  for  he  is  a  god ;  either 
he  is  talking,  or  he  is  pursuing,  or  he  is  in  a  jour- 

240 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ney,  or  peradventure  he  sleepeth,  and  must  he 
awaked.  And  they  cried  aloud,  and  cut  them- 
selves after  their  manner  with  knives  and  lancets, 
till  the  blood  gushed  out  upon  them. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  midday  was  past, 
and  they  prophesied  until  the  time  of  the  offering 
of  the  evening  sacrifice,  that  there  was  neither 
voice,  nor  any  to  answer,  nor  any  that  regarded. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  all  the  people.  Come  near 
unto  me.  And  all  the  people  came  near  unto  him. 
And  he  repaired  the  altar  of  the  Lord  that  was 
broken  down.  And  Elijah  took  twelve  stones,  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  the  sons 
of  Jacob,  unto  whom  the  word  of  the  Lord  came, 
saying,  Israel  shall  be  thy  name:  and  with  the 
stones  he  built  an  altar  in  the  name  of  the  Lord: 
and  he  made  a  trench  about  the  altar,  as  great  as 
would  contain  two  measures  of  seed.  And  he  put 
the  wood  in  order,  and  cut  the  bullock  in  pieces, 
and  laid  him  on  the  wood,  and  said.  Fill  four  bar- 
rels with  water,  and  pour  it  on  the  burnt  sacrifice, 
and  on  the  wood.  And  he  said.  Do  it  the  second 
time.  And  they  did  it  the  second  time.  And  he 
said.  Do  it  the  third  time.  And  they  did  it  the 
third  time.  And  the  water  ran  round  about  the 
altar ;  and  he  filled  the  trench  also  with  water. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  time  of  the  offering 
of  the  evening  sacrifice,  that  Elijah  the  prophet 
came  near,  and  said,  Lord  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  of  Israel,  let  it  be  known  this  day  that  thou 
art  God  in  Israel,  and  that  I  am  thy  servant,  and 

241 


BIBLE  STORIES 

that  I  have  done  all  these  things  at  thy  word. 
Hear  me,  O  Lord,  hear  me,  that  this  people  may 
know  that  thou  art  the  Loed  God,  and  that  thou 
hast  turned  their  heart  back  again. 

Then  the  fire  of  the  Lord  fell,  and  consumed 
the  burnt  sacrifice,  and  the  wood,  and  the  stones, 
and  the  dust,  and  licked  up  the  water  that  was  in 
the  trench. 

And  when  all  the  people  saw  it,  they  fell  on 
their  faces:  and  they  said.  The  Lord-,  he  is  the 
God ;  the  Lord,  he  is  the  God. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  them.  Take  the  prophets 
of  Baal;  let  not  one  of  them  escape.  And  they 
took  them :  and  Elijah  brought  them  down  to  the 
brook  Kishon,  and  slew  them  there. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  Ahab,  Get  thee  up,  eat 
and  drink;  for  there  is  a  sound  of  abundance  of 
rain.    So  Ahab  went  up  to  eat  and  to  drink. 

And  Elijah  went  up  to  the  top  of  Carmel;  and 
he  cast  himself  down  upon  the  earth,  and  put  his 
face  between  his  knees,  and  said  to  his  servant, 
Go  up  now,  look  toward  the  sea.  And  he  went  up, 
and  looked,  and  said,  There  is  nothing.  And  he 
said,  Go  again  seven  times.  And  it  came  to  pass 
at  the  seventh  time,  that  he  said,  Behold,  there 
ariseth  a  little  cloud  out  of  the  sea,  like  a  man's 
hand.  And  he  said,  Go  up,  say  unto  Ahab,  Prepare 
thy  chariot,  and  get  thee  down,  that  the  rain  stop 
thee  not. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  mean  while,  that  the 
heaven  was  black  with  clouds  and  wind,  and  there 

242 


BIBLE  STORIES 

was  a  great  rain.  And  Ahab  rode,  and  went  to 
Jezreel.  And  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  on  EHjah ; 
and  he  girded  up  his  loins,  and  ran  before  Ahab 
to  the  entrance  of  Jezreel. 

GOD  APPEARETH  TO  ELIJAH  IN  HOREB 

(I.  Kings  xix.  1-21) 

And  Ahab  told  Jezebel  all  that  Elijah  had  done, 
and  withal  how  he  had  slain  all  the  prophets  with 
the  sword.  Then  Jezebel  sent  a  messenger  unto 
Elijah,  saying.  So  let  the  gods  do  ^o  me,  and  more 
also,  if  I  make  not  thy  life  as  the  life  of  one  of 
them  by  to  morrow  about  this  time. 

And  when  he  saw  that,  he  arose,  and  went  for 
his  life,  and  came  to  Beersheba,  which  belongeth 
to  Judah,  and  left  his  servant  there.  But  he  him- 
self went  a  day's  journey  into  the  wilderness,  and 
came  and  sat  down  under  a  juniper  tree :  and  he 
requested  for  himself  that  he  might  die ;  and  said. 
It  is  enough ;  now,  0  Lord,  take  away  my  life ;  for 
I  am  not  better  than  my  fathers.    -- 

And  as  he  lay  and  slept  under  a  juniper  tree, 
behold,  then  an  angel  touched  him,  and  said  unto 
him.  Arise  and  eat.  And  he  looked,  and,  behold, 
there  was  a  cake  baken  on  the  coals,  and  a  cruse 
of  water  at  his  head.  And  he  did  eat  and  drink, 
and  laid  him  down  again.  And  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  came  again  the  second  time,  and  touched  him, 
and  said.  Arise  and  eat ;  because  the  journey  is  too 
great  for  thee.     And  he  arose,  and  did  eat  and 

243 


BIBLE  STORIES 

drink,  and  went  in  the  strength  of  that  meat  forty 
days  and  forty  nights  unto  Horeb  the  mount  of 
God. 

And  he  came  thither  unto  a  cave,  and  lodged 
there;  and,  behold,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
to  him,  and  he  said  unto  him.  What  doest  thou 
here,  Elijah? 

And  he  said,  I  have  been  very  jealous  for  the 
Lord  God  of  hosts :  for  the  children  of  Israel  have 
forsaken  thy  covenant,  thrown  down  thine  altars, 
and  slain  thy  prophets  with  the  sword ;  and  I,  even 
I  only,  am  left;  and  they  seek  my  life,  to  take  it 
away. 

And  he  said.  Go  forth,  and  stand  upon  the 
mount  before  the  Lord.  And,  behold,  the  Lord 
passed  by,  and  a  great  and  strong  wind  rent  the 
mountains,  and  brake  in  pieces  the  rocks  before 
the  Lord;  hut  the  Lord  was  not  in  the  wind:  and 
after  the  wind  an  earthquake;  but  the  Lord  was 
not  in  the  earthquake :  And  after  the  earthquake  a 
fire;  hut  the  Lord  was  not  in  the  fire:  and  after 
the  fire  a  still  small  voice. 

And  it  was  so,  when  Elijah  heard  it,  that  he 
wrapped  his  face  in  his  mantle,  and  went  out,  and 
stood  in  the  entering  in  of  the  cave.  And,  behold, 
there  came  a  voice  unto  him,  and  said,  What  doest 
thou  here,  Elijah? 

And  he  said,  I  have  been  very  jealous  for  the 
Lord  God  of  hosts :  because  the  children  of  Israel 
have  forsaken  thy  covenant,  thrown  down  thine 
altars,  and  slain  thy  prophets  with  the  sword ;  and 

244 


BIBLE  STORIES 

I,  even  I  only,  am  left;  and  they  seek  my  life,  to 
take  it  away. 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Go,  return  on  thy 
way  to  the  wilderness  of  Damascus.  Yet  I  have 
left  me  seven  thousand  in  Israel,  all  the  knees 
which  have  not  bowed  unto  Baal,  and  every  mouth 
which  hath  not  kissed  him. 

So  he  departed  thence,  and  found  Elisha  the 
son  of  Shaphat,  who  was  ploughing  ivith  twelve 
yoke  of  oxen  before  him,  and  he  with  the  twelfth : 
and  Elijah  passed  by  him,  and  cast  his  mantle 
upon  him.  And  he  left  the  oxen,  and  ran  after 
Elijah,  and  said.  Let  me,  I  pray  thee,  kiss  my 
father  and  my  mother,  and  then  1  will  follow  thee. 
And  he  said  unto  him,  Go  back  again:  for  what 
have  I  done  to  thee?  And  he  returned  back  from 
him,  and  took  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  slew  them,  and 
boiled  their  flesh  with  the  instruments  of  the  oxen, 
and  gave  unto  the  people,  and  they  did  eat.  Then 
he  arose,  and  went  after  Elijah,  and  ministered 
unto  him. 

ELIJAH  TAKEN  UP  IN  A  CHARIOT  OF  FIRE 

(II.  Kings  ii.  1-18) 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Lord  would  take 
up  Elijah  into  heaven  by  a  whirlwind,  that  Elijah 
went  with  Elisha  from  Gilgal,  And  Elijah  said 
unto  Elisha,  Tarry  here,  I  pray  thee ;  for  the  Lord 
hath  sent  me  to  Bethel.  And  Elisha  said  unto 
him,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I 

245 


BIBLE  STORIES 

will  not  leave  thee.    So  they  went  down  to  Bethel. 

And  the   sons   of  the  prophets   that  were  at 

Bethel  came  forth  to  Elisha,  and  said  unto  him, 

Knowest  thou  that  the  Lord  will  take  away  thy 


Fig.  22. — Elijah  Taken  Up  in  a  Chariot  of  Fire. 

William  Blake.     Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art, 

New   York  City. 

master  from  thy  head  to  day?  And  he  said,  Yea, 
I  know  it;  hold  ye  your  peace. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  him,  Elisha,  tarry  here,  I 
pray  thee ;  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to  Jericho. 
And  he  said.  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy  soul 
liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee.  So  they  came  to 
Jericho. 

And  the  sons  of  the  prophets  that  ivere  at 
Jericho  came  to  Elisha,  and  said  unto  him,  Know- 

246 


BIBLE  STORIES 

est  thou  that  the  Lord  will  take  away  thy  master 
from  thy  head  to  day?  And  he  answered,  Yea,  I 
know  it;  hold  ye  your  peace. 

And  Elijah  said  unto  him.  Tarry,  I  pray  thee, 
here ;  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to  Jordan,  And 
he  said,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy  soul  liveth, 
I  will  not  leave  thee.    And  they  two  went  on. 

And  fifty  men  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  went, 
and  stood  to  view  afar  off :  and  they  two  stood  by 
Jordan.  And  Elijah  took  his  mantle,  and  wrapped 
it  together,  and  smote  the  waters,  and  they  were 
divided  hither  and  thither,  so  that  they  two  went 
over  on  dry  ground. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were  gone  over, 
that  Elijah  said  unto  Elisha,  Ask  what  I  shall  do 
for  thee,  before  I  be  taken  away  from  thee.  And 
Elisha  said,  I  pray  thee,  let  a  double  portion  of 
thy  spirit  be  upon  me.  And  he  said.  Thou  hast 
asked  a  hard  thing:  nevertheless,  if  thou  see  me 
ivhen  I  am  taken  from  thee,  it  shall  be  so  unto 
thee ;  but  if  not,  it  shall  not  be  so. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  still  went  on,  and 
talked,  that,  behold,  there  appeared  a  chariot  of 
fire,  and  horses  of  fire,  and  parted  them  both  asun- 
der; and  Elijah  went  up  by  a  whirlwind  into 
heaven. 

And  Elisha  saw  it,  and  he  cried.  My  father,  my 
father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen 
thereof.  And  he  saw  him  no  more:  and  he  took 
hold  of  his  own  clothes,  and  rent  them  in  two 
pieces.     He  took  up  also  the  mantle  of  Elijah 

247 


BIBLE  STORIES 

that  fell  from  him,  and  went  back,  and  stood  by 
the  bank  of  Jordan;  and  he  took  the  mantle  of 
Elijah  that  fell  from  him,  and  smote  the  waters, 
and  said,  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah?  And 
when  he  also  had  smitten  the  waters,  they  parted 
hither  and  thither :  and  Elisha  went  over. 

And  when  the  sons  of  the  prophets  which  were 
to  view  at  Jericho  saw  him,  they  said,  The  spirit 
of  Elijah  doth  rest  on  Elisha.  And  they  came  to 
meet  him,  and  bowed  themselves  to  the  ground  be- 
fore him.  And  they  said  unto  him.  Behold  now, 
there  be  with  thy  servants  fifty  strong  men;  let 
them  go,  we  pray  thee,  and  seek  thy  master :  lest 
peradventure  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  hath  taken 
him  up,  and  cast  him  upon  some  mountain,  or  into 
some  valley.  And  he  said.  Ye  shall  not  send.  And 
when  they  urged  him  till  he  was  ashamed,  he  said. 
Send.  They  sent  therefore  fifty  men;  and  they 
sought  three  days,  but  found  him  not.  And  when 
they  came  again  to  him  (for  he  tarried  at  Jericho), 
he  said  unto  them,  Did  I  not  say  unto  you.  Go  not  ? 

ELISHA  HEALS  THE  WATERS 

(II.  Kings  ii.  19-25) 

And  the  men  of  the  city,  said  unto  Elisha,  Be- 
hold, I  pray  thee,  the  situation  of  this  city  is  pleas- 
ant, as  my  lord  seeth :  but  the  water  is  naught,  and 
the  ground  barren.  And  he  said.  Bring  me  a  new 
cruse,  and  put  salt  therein.  And  they  brought  it 
to  him.    And  he  went  forth  unto  the  spring  of  the 

248 


BIBLE  STORIES 

waters,  and  cast  the  salt  in  there,  and  said,  Thus 
saith  the  Lord,  I  have  healed  these  waters;  there 
shall  not  be  from  thence  any  more  death  or  barren 
land.  So  the  waters  were  healed  unto  this  day, 
according  to  the  saying  of  Elisha  which  he  spake. 

And  he  went  up  from  thence  unto  Bethel ;  and 
as  he  was  going  up  by  the  way,  there  came  forth 
little  children  out  of  the  city,  and  mocked  him,  and 
said  unto  him.  Go  up,  thou  bald  head ;  go  up,  thou 
bald  head.  And  he  turned  back,  and  looked  on 
them,  and  cursed  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
And  there  came  forth  two  she  bears  out  of  the 
wood,  and  tare  forty  and  two  children  of  them. 

And  he  went  from  thence  to  mount  Carmel,  and 
from  thence  he  returned  to  Samaria. 

ELISHA  OBTAINETH  WATER 

(II.  Kings  iii.  0-27) 

And  king  Jehoram  went  out  of  Samaria  the 
same  time,  and  numbered  all  Israel.  And  he  went 
and  sent  to  Jehoshaphat  the  king  of  Judali,  say- 
ing. The  king  of  Moab  hath  rebelled  against  me : 
wilt  thou  go  with  me  against  Moab  to  battle  ?  And 
he  said,  I  will  go  up :  I  am  as  thou  art,  my  people 
as  thy  people,  and  my  horses  as  thy  horses.  And 
he  said,  Which  way  shall  we  go  up!  And  he 
answered,  The  way  through  the  wilderness  of 
Edom. 

So  the  king  of  Israel  went,  and  the  king  of 
Judah,  and  the  king  of  Edom :  and  they  fetched  a 

249 


BIBLE  STORIES 

compass  of  seven  days'  journey:  and  there  was 
no  water  for  the  host,  and  for  the  cattle  that  fol- 
lowed them.  And  the  king  of  Israel  said,  Alas! 
that  the  Lord  hath  called  these  three  kings  to- 
gether, to  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of  Moab ! 

But  Jehoshaphat  said,  7^  there  not  here  a 
prophet  of  the  Lord,  that  we  may  inquire  of  the 
Lord  by  him?  And  one  of  the  king  of  Israel's 
servants  answered  and  said.  Here  is  Elisha  the 
son  of  Shaphat,  which  poured  water  on  the  hands 
of  Elijah.  And  Jehoshaphat  said.  The  word  of  the 
Lord  is  with  him.  So  the  king  of  Israel  and 
Jehoshaphat  and  the  king  of  Edom  went  down 
to  him. 

And  Elisha  said  unto  the  king  of  Israel,  What 
have  I  to  do  with  thee  ?  get  thee  to  the  prophets  of 
thy  father,  and  to  the  prophets  of  thy  mother. 

And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  him,  Nay :  for 
the  Lord  hath  called  these  three  kings  together, 
to  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of  Moab. 

And  Elisha  said,  As  the  Lord  of  hosts  liveth, 
before  whom  I  stand,  surely,  were  it  not  that  I 
regard  the  presence  of  Jehoshaphat  the  king  of 
Judah,  I  would  not  look  toward  thee,  nor  see  thee. 
But  now  bring  me  a  minstrel.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  when  the  minstrel  played,  that  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  came  upon  him.  And  he  said.  Thus  saith 
the  Lord,  Make  this  valley  full  of  ditches.  For  thus 
saith  the  Lord,  Ye  shall  not  see  wind,  neither  shall 
ye  see  rain;  yet  that  valley  shall  be  filled  with 
water,  that  ye  may  drink,  both  ye,  and  your  cattle. 

250 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  your  beasts.  And  this  is  hut  a  light  thing  in 
the  sight  of  the  Lord  ;  he  will  deliver  the  Moabites 
also  into  your  hand.  And  ye  shall  smite  every 
fenced  city,  and  every  choice  city,  and  shall  fell 
every  good  tree,  and  stop  all  wells  of  water,  and 
mar  every  good  piece  of  land  with  stones. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning,  when  the 
meat  offering  was  offered,  that,  behold,  there  came 
water  by  the  way  of  Edom,  and  the  country  was 
filled  with  water. 

And  when  all  the  Moabites  heard  that  the  kings 
were  come  up  to  fight  against  them,  they  gathered 
all  that  were  able  to  put  on  armour,  and  upward, 
and  stood  in  the  border.  And  they  rose  up  early 
in  the  morning,  and  the  sun  shone  upon  the  water, 
and  the  Moabites  saw  the  water  on  the  other  side 
as  red  as  blood :  and  they  said.  This  is  blood :  the 
kings  are  surely  slain,  and  they  have  smitten  one 
another:  now  therefore,  Moab,  to  the  spoil.  And 
when  they  came  to  the  camp  of  Israel,  the  Israel- 
ites rose  up  and  smote  the  Moabites,  so  that  they 
fled  before  them:  but  they  went  forward  smiting 
the  Moabites,  even  in  their  country.  And  they 
beat  down  the  cities,  and  on  every  good  piece  of 
land  cast  every  man  his  stone,  and  filled  it;  and 
they  stopped  all  the  wells  of  water,  and  felled  all 
the  good  trees :  only  in  Kir-haraseth  left  they  the 
stones  thereof ;  howbeit  the  slingers  went  about  it, 
and  smote  it. 

And  when  the  king  of  Moab  saw  that  the  battle 
was  too  sore  for  him,  he  took  with  him  seven  hun- 

251 


BIBLE  STORIES 

dred  men  that  drew  swords,  to  break  through  even 
unto  the  king  of  Edom :  but  they  could  not.  Then 
he  took  his  eldest  son  that  should  have  reigned  in 
his  stead,  and  offered  him  for  a  burnt  offering 
upon  the  wall.  And  there  was  great  indignation 
against  Israel:  and  they  departed  from  him,  and 
returned  to  their  own  land. 

THE  WIDOW'S  OIL  INCREASED 

(II.  Kings  iv.  1-8) 

Now  there  cried  a  certain  woman  of  the  wives 
of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  unto  Elisha,  saying, 
Thy  servant  my  husband  is  dead ;  and  thou  know- 
est  that  thy  servant  did  fear  the  Lord:  and  the 
creditor  is  come  to  take  unto  him  my  two  sons  to 
be  bondmen. 

And  Elisha  said  unto  her,  What  shall  I  do  for 
thee?  tell  me,  what  hast  thou  in  the  house? 

And  she  said.  Thine  handmaid  hath  not  any 
thing  in  the  house,  save  a  pot  of  oil. 

Then  he  said.  Go,  borrow  thee  vessels  abroad 
of  all  thy  neighbours,  even  empty  vessels ;  borrow 
not  a  few.  And  when  thou  art  come  in,  thou  shalt 
shut  the  door  upon  thee  and  upon  thj^  sons,  and 
shalt  pour  out  into  all  those  vessels,  and  thou  shalt 
set  aside  that  which  is  full. 

So  she  went  from  him,  and  shut  the  door  upon 
her  and  upon  her  sons,  who  brought  the  vessels  to 
her;  and  she  poured  out.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
when  the  vessels  were  full,  that  she  said  unto  her 

252 


BIBLE  STORIES 

son,  Bring  me  yet  a  vessel.  And  he  said  unto  her, 
There  is  not  a  vessel  more.  And  the  oil  stayed. 
Then  she  came  and  told  the  man  of  God.  And  he 
said,  Go,  sell  the  oil,  and  pay  thy  debt,  and  live 
thou  and  thy  children  of  the  rest. 

THE  WIDOW'S  SON  RESTORED 

(II.  Kings  iv.S-37) 

And  it  fell  on  a  day,  that  Elisha  passed  to 
Shunem,  where  ivas  a  great  woman ;  and  she  con- 
strained him  to  eat  bread.  And  so  it  was,  that  as 
oft  as  he  passed  by,  he  turned  in  thither  to  eat 
bread.  And  she  said  unto  her  husband.  Behold 
now,  I  perceive  that  this  is  a  holy  man  of  God, 
which  passeth  by  us  continually.  Let  us  make  a 
little  chamber,  I  pray  thee,  on  the  wall;  and  let 
us  set  for  him  there  a  bed,  and  a  table,  and  a  stool, 
and  a  candlestick :  and  it  shall  be,  when  he  cometh 
to  us,  that  he  shall  turn  in  thither. 

And  it  fell  on  a  day,  that  he  came  thither,  and 
he  turned  into  the  chamber,  and  lay  there.  And 
he  said  to  Gehazi  his  servant,  Call  this  Shunam- 
mite.  And  when  he  had  called  her,  she  stood  be- 
fore him.  And  he  said  unto  him.  Say  now  unto 
her,  Behold,  thou  hast  been  careful  for  us  with  all 
this  care;  what  is  to  be  done  for  thee?  wouldest 
thou  be  spoken  for  to  the  king,  or  to  the  captain  of 
the  host!  And  she  answered,  I  dwell  among  mine 
own  people. 

And  he  said,  What  then  is  to  be  done  for  her? 
253 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  Gehazi  answered,  Verily  she  hath  no  child, 
and  her  husband  is  old.  And  he  said,  Call  her. 
And  when  he  had  called  her,  she  stood  in  the  door. 
And  he  said,  About  this  season,  according  to  the 
time  of  life,  thou  shalt  embrace  a  son.  And  she 
said.  Nay,  my  lord,  thou  man  of  God,  do  not  lie 
unto  thine  handmaid. 

And  the  woman  bare  a  son  at  that  season  that 
Elisha  had  said  unto  her,  according  to  the  time 
of  life. 

And  when  the  child  was  grown,  it  fell  on  a  day, 
that  he  went  out  to  his  father  to  the  reapers.  And 
he  said  unto  his  father,  My  head,  my  head.  And 
he  said  to  a  lad.  Carry  him  to  his  mother.  And 
when  he  had  taken  him,  and  brought  him  to  his 
mother,  he  sat  on  her  knees  till  noon,  and  then 
died.  And  she  went  up,  and  laid  him  on  the  bed 
of  the  man  of  God,  and  shut  the  door  upon  him, 
and  went  out. 

And  she  called  unto  her  husband,  and  said, 
Send  me,  I  pray  thee,  one  of  the  young  men,  and 
one  of  the  asses,  that  I  may  run  to  the  man  of 
God,  and  come  again.  And  he  said,  Wherefore 
wilt  thou  go  to  him  to  day  ?  it  is  neither  new  moon, 
nor  sabbath.  And  she  said,  It  shall  he  well.  Then 
she  saddled  an  ass^  and  said  to  her  servant,  Drive, 
and  go  forward;  slack  not  thy  riding  for  me,  ex- 
cept I  bid  thee.  So  she  went  and  came  unto  the 
man  of  God  to  mount  Carmel. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  man  of  God  saw 
her  afar  off,  that  he  said  to  Gehazi  his  servant, 

254 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Behold,  yonder  is  that  Shunammite :  run  now,  I 
pray  thee,  to  meet  her,  and  say  unto  her.  Is  it  well 
with  thee?  is  it  well  with  thy  husband!  is  it  well 
with  the  child  ?    And  she  answered,  It  is  well. 

And  when  she  came  to  the  man  of  God  to  the 
hill,  she  caught  him  by  the  feet :  but  Gehazi  came 
near  to  thrust  her  away.  And  the  man  of  God 
said,  Let  her  alone ;  for  her  soul  is  vexed  within 
her :  and  the  Lord  hath  hid  it  from  me,  and  hath 
not  told  me.  Then  she  said.  Did  I  desire  a  son  of 
my  lord  ?  did  I  not  say.  Do  not  deceive  me  ? 

Then  he  said  to  Gehazi,  Gird  up  thy  loins,  and 
take  my  staff  in  thine  hand,  and  go  thy  way:  if 
thou  meet  any  man,  salute  him  not;  and  if  any 
salute  thee,  answer  him  not  again:  and  lay  my 
staff  upon  the  face  of  the  child.  And  the  mother  of 
the  child  said,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy  soul 
liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee.  And  he  arose,  and 
followed  her. 

And  Gehazi  passed  on  before  them,  and  laid  the 
staff  upon  the  face  of  the  child;  but  there  was 
neither  voice,  nor  hearing.  Wherefore  he  went 
again  to  meet  him,  and  told  him,  saying,  The  child 
is  not  awaked. 

And  when  Elisha  was  come  into  the  house,  be- 
hold, the  child  was  dead,  and  laid  upon  his  bed. 
He  went  in  therefore,  and  shut  the  door  upon  them 
twain,  and  prayed  unto  the  Lord.  And  he  went  up, 
and  lay  upon  the  child,  and  put  his  mouth  upon  his 
mouth,  and  his  eyes  upon  his  eyes,  and  his  hands 
upon  his  hands:  and  he  stretched  himself  upon 

255 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  child ;  and  the  flesh  of  the  child  waxed  warm. 
Then  he  returned,  and  walked  in  the  house  to  and 
fro ;  and  went  up,  and  stretched  himself  upon  him : 
and  the  child  sneezed  seven  times,  and  the  child 
opened  his  eyes. 

And  he  called  Gehazi,  and  said,  Call  this  Shu- 
nammite.  So  he  called  her.  And  when  she  was 
come  in  unto  him,  he  said.  Take  up  thy  son.  Then 
she  went  in,  and  fell  at  his  feet,  and  bowed  herself 
to  the  ground,  and  took  up  her  son,  and  went  out. 

DEATH  IN  THE  POT 

(II.  Kings  iv.  38-41) 

And  Elisha  came  again  to  Gilgal:  and  tliere  ivas 
a  dearth  in  the  land ;  and  the  sons  of  the  prophets 
were  sitting  before  him:  and  he  said  unto  his 
servant,  Set  on  the  great  pot,  and  seethe  pottage 
for  the  sons  of  the  prophets.  And  one  went  out 
into  the  field  to  gather  herbs,  and  found  a  wild 
vine,  and  gathered  thereof  wild  gourds  his  lap  full, 
and  came  and  shred  them  into  the  pot  of  pottage: 
for  they  knew  them  not.  So  they  poured  out  for 
the  men  to  eat.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  were 
eating  of  the  pottage,  that  they  cried  out,  and  said, 
0  thou  man  of  God,  the7~e  is  death  in  the  pot.  And 
they  could  not  eat  thereof.  But  he  said.  Then 
bring  meal.  And  he  cast  it  into  the  pot;  and  he 
said.  Pour  out  for  the  people,  that  they  may  eat. 
And  there  was  no  harm  in  the  pot. 


256 


BIBLE  STORIES 

NAAMAN'S  LEPROSY 

(II.  Kings  V.  1-27) 

Now  Naaman,  captain  of  the  host  of  the  king  of 
Syria,  was  a  great  man  with  his  master,  and  hon- 
ourable, because  by  him  the  Loed  had  given  deliv- 
erance unto  Syria:  he  was  also  a  mighty  man  in 
valour,  hut  he  ivas  a  leper.  And  the  Syrians  had 
gone  out  by  companies,  and  had  brought  away  cap- 
tive out  of  the  land  of  Israel  a  little  maid ;  and  she 
waited  on  Naaman's  wife.  And  she  said  unto  her 
mistress.  Would  God  my  lord  tvere  with  the 
prophet  that  is  in  Samaria !  for  he  would  recover 
him  of  his  leprosy.  And  one  went  in,  and  told  his 
lord,  saying,  Thus  and  thus  said  the  maid  that  is 
of  the  land  of  Israel. 

And  the  king  of  Syria  said,  Go  to,  go,  and  I 
will  send  a  letter  unto  the  king  of  Israel.  And  he 
departed,  and  took  with  him  ten  talents  of  silver, 
and  six  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  ten  changes 
of  raiment.  And  he  brought  the  letter  to  the  king 
of  Israel,  saying.  Now  when  this  letter  is  come 
unto  thee,  behold,  I  have  therewith  sent  Naaman 
my  servant  to  thee,  that  thou  mayest  recover  him 
of  his  leprosy. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king  of  Israel  had 
read  the  letter,  that  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  said, 
A  m  I  God,  to  kill  and  to  make  alive,  that  this  man 
doth  send  unto  me  to  recover  a  man  of  his  leprosy? 

257 


BIBLE  STORIES 

wherefore  consider,  I  pray  you,  and  see  how  he 
seeketh  a  quarrel  against  me. 

And  it  was  50,  when  Elisha  the  man  of  God  had 
heard  that  the  king  of  Israel  had  rent  his  clothes, 
that  he  sent  to  the  king,  saying,  Wherefore  hast 
thou  rent  thy  clothes?  let  him  come  now  to  me,  and 
he  shall  know  that  there  is  a  prophet  in  Israel. 

So  Naaman  came  with  his  horses  and  with  his 
chariot,  and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  house  of 
Elisha.  And  Elisha  sent  a  messenger  unto  him, 
saying,  Go  and  wash  in  Jordan  seven  times,  and 
thy  flesh  shall  come  again  to  thee,  and  thou  shalt 
be  clean. 

But  Naaman  was  wroth,  and  went  away,  and 
said,  Behold,  I  thought.  He  will  surely  come  out 
to  me,  and  stand,  and  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord 
his  God,  and  strike  his  hand  over  the  place,  and 
recover  the  leper.  Are  not  Abana  and  Pharpar, 
rivers  of  Damascus,  better  than  all  the  waters  of 
Israel?  may  I  not  wash  in  them,  and  be  clean?  So 
he  turned  and  went  away  in  a  rage. 

And  his  servants  came  near,  and  spake  unto 
him,  and  said.  My  father,  if  the  prophet  had  bid 
thee  do  some  great  thing,  wouldest  thou  not  have 
done  it?  how  much  rather  then,  when  he  saitli  to 
thee.  Wash,  and  be  clean. 

Then  went  he  down,  and  dipped  himself  seven 
times  in  Jordan,  according  to  the  saying  of  the 
man  of  God:  and  his  flesh  came  again  like  unto 
the  flesh  of  a  little  child,  and  he  was  clean. 

And  he  returned  to  the  man  of  God,  he  and  all 
258 


BIBLE  STORIES 

his  company,  and  came,  and  stood  before  him: 
and  he  said,  Behold,  now  I  know  that  there  is  no 
God  in  all  the  earth,  but  in  Israel :  now  therefore, 
I  pray  thee,  take  a  blessing  of  thy  servant.  But 
he  said.  As  the  Lord  liveth,  before  whom  I  stand, 
I  will  receive  none. 

And  he  urged  him  to  take  it;  but  he  refused. 
And  Naaman  said.  Shall  there  not  then,  I  pray 
thee,  be  given  to  thy  servant  two  mules'  burden  of 
earth?  for  thy  servant  will  henceforth  offer 
neither  burnt  offering  nor  sacrifice  unto  other 
gods,  but  unto  the  Lord.  In  this  thing  the  Lord 
pardon  thy  servant,  that  when  my  master  goeth 
into  the  house  of  Rimmon  to  worship  there,  and  he 
leaneth  on  my  hand,  and  I  bow  myself  in  the  house 
of  Rimmon :  when  I  bow  down  myself  in  the  house 
of  Rimmon,  the  Lord  pardon  thy  servant  in  this 
thing. 

And  he  said  unto  him.  Go  in  peace.  So  he  de- 
parted from  him  a  little  way. 

But  Gehazi,  the  servant  of  Elisha  the  man  of 
God,  said.  Behold,  my  master  hath  spared  Naaman 
this  Syrian,  in  not  receiving  at  his  hands  that 
which  he  brought:  but,  as  the  Lord  liveth,  I  will 
run  after  him,  and  take  somewhat  of  him.  So 
Gehazi  followed  after  Naaman.  And  when  Naa- 
man saw  him  running  after  him,  he  lighted  down 
from  the  chariot  to  meet  him,  and  said.  Is  all  well? 
And  he  said,  All  is  well.  My  master  hath  sent  me, 
saying,  Behold,  even  now  there  be  come  to  me 
from  mount  Ephraim  two  young  men  of  the  sons 

259 


BIBLE  STORIES 

of  the  prophets :  give  them,  I  pray  thee,  a  talent 
of  silver,  and  two  changes  of  garments.  And 
Naaman  said.  Be  content,  take  two  talents.  And 
he  urged  him,  and  bound  two  talents  of  silver  in 
two  bags,  with  two  changes  of  garments,  and  laid 
them  upon  two  of  his  servants;  and  they  bare 
them  before  him.  And  when  he  came  to  the  tower, 
he  took  them  from  their  hand,  and  bestowed  them 
in  the  house:  and  he  let  the  men  go,  and  they 
departed. 

But  he  went  in,  and  stood  before  his  master. 
And  Elisha  said  unto  him,  Whence  comest  thou, 
Gehazi?  And  he  said,  Thy  servant  went  no 
whither. 

And  he  said  unto  him.  Went  not  mine  heart 
with  thee,  when  the  man  turned  again  from  his 
chariot  to  meet  thee?  Is  it  a  time  to  receive 
money,  and  to  receive  garments,  and  oliveyards, 
and  vineyards,  and  sheep,  and  oxen,  and  men- 
servants,  and  maidservants?  The  leprosy  there- 
fore of  Naaman  shall  cleave  unto  thee,  and  unto 
thy  seed  for  ever.  And  he  went  out  from  his 
presence  a  leper  as  white  as  snow. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

IRON  SWIMS 

(IT.  Kiniisvi.  1-8) 

And  the  sons  of  the  prophets  said  unto  Elisha, 
Behold  now,  the  place  where  we  dwell  with  thee  is 
too  strait  for  us.  Let  us  go,  we  pray  thee,  unto 
Jordan,  and  take  thence  every  man  a  beam,  and 
let  us  make  us  a  place  there,  where  we  may  dwell. 
And  he  answered.  Go  ye.  And  one  said.  Be  con- 
tent, I  pray  thee,  and  go  with  thy  servants.  And 
he  answered,  I  will  go.  So  he  went  with  them. 
And  when  they  came  to  Jordan,  they  cut  down 
wood.  But  as  one  was  felling  a  beam,  the  ax  head 
fell  into  the  water:  and  he  cried,  and  said,  Alas, 
master!  for  it  was  borrowed.  And  the  man  of 
God  said.  Where  fell  it?  And  he  shewed  him  the 
place.  And  he  cut  down  a  stick,  and  cast  it  in 
thither;  and  the  iron  did  swim.  Therefore  said 
he,  Take  //  up  to  thee.  And  he  put  out  his  hand, 
and  took  it. 

AN  ARMY  STRUCK  WITH  BLINDNESS 

(II.  Kings  vi.  8-23) 

Then  the  king  of  Syria  warred  against  Israel, 
and  took  counsel  with  his  servants,  saying.  In  such 
and  such  a  place  sliall  be  my  camp.  And  the  man 
of  God  sent  unto  the  king  of  Israel,  saying,  Be- 
ware that  thou  pass  not  such  a  place ;  for  thither 
the  Syrians  are  come  down.     And  the  king  of 

261 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Israel  sent  to  the  place  which  the  man  of  God  told 
him  and  warned  him  of,  and  saved  himself  there, 
not  once  nor  twice. 

Therefore  the  heart  of  the  king  of  Syria  was 
sore  troubled  for  this  thing;  and  he  called  his 
servants,  and  said  unto  them.  Will  ye  not  shew 
me  which  of  us  is  for  the  king  of  Israel?  And 
one  of  his  servants  said.  None,  my  lord,  0  king : 
but  Elisha,  the  prophet  that  is  in  Israel,  telleth  the 
king  of  Israel  the  words  that  thou  speakest  in  thy 
bed-chamber. 

And  he  said.  Go  and  spy  where  he  is,  that  I  may 
send  and  fetch  him.  And  it  was  told  him,  saying. 
Behold,  he  is  in  Dothan.  Therefore  sent  he  thither 
horses,  and  chariots,  and  a  great  host:  and  they 
came  by  night,  and  compassed  the  city  about. 
And  when  the  servant  of  the  man  of  God  was 
risen  early,  and  gone  forth,  behold,  a  host  com- 
passed the  city  both  with  horses  and  chariots. 
And  his  servant  said  unto  him,  Alas,  my  master! 
how  shall  we  do  ?  And  he  answered.  Fear  not :  for 
they  that  be  with  us  are  more  than  they  that  be 
with  them. 

And  EKsha  prayed,  and  said.  Lord,  I  pray  thee, 
open  his  eyes,  that  he  may  see.  And  the  Lord 
opened  the  eyes  of  the  young  man ;  and  he  saw : 
and,  behold,  the  mountain  ivas  full  of  horses  and 
chariots  of  fire  round  about  Elisha. 

And  when  they  came  down  to  him,  Elisha  prayed 
unto  the  Lord,  and  said.  Smite  this  people,  I  pray 
thee,  with  blindness.     And  he  smote  them  with 

262 


BIBLE  STORIES 

blindness  according  to  the  word  of  Elisha. 
And  Elisha  said  unto  them,  This  is  not  the  way, 
neither  is  this  the  city :  follow  me,  and  I  will  bring 
you  to  the  man  whom  ye  seek.  But  he  led  them  to 
Samaria.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were 
come  into  Samaria,  that  Elisha  said,  Lord,  open 
the  eyes  of  these  men,  that  they  may  see.  And  the 
Lord  opened  their  eyes,  and  they  saw ;  and,  behold, 
they  ivere  in  the  midst  of  Samaria. 

And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Elisha,  when 
he  saw  them.  My  father,  shall  I  smite  them?  shall 
I  smite  iliemf  And  he  answered.  Thou  shalt  not 
smite  them:  wouldest  thou  smite  those  whom  thou 
hast  taken  captive  with  thy  sword  and  with  thy 
bow?  set  bread  and  water  before  them,  that  they 
may  eat  and  drink,  and  go  to  their  master. 
And  he  prepared  great  provision  for  them:  and 
when  they  had  eaten  and  drunk,  he  sent  them 
away,  and  they  went  to  their  master.  So  the 
bands  of  Syria  came  no  more  into  the  land  of 
Israel. 

WOMEN  EAT  THEIR  OWN  CHILDREN 

( II.  Kings  vi.  24-33) 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  Ben-hadad 
king  of  Syria  gathered  all  his  host,  and  went  up, 
and  besieged  Samaria.  And  there  was  a  great 
famine  in  Samaria :  and,  behold,  they  besieged  it, 
until  an  ass's  head  was  sold  for  fourscore  pieces 
of  silver,  and  the  fourth  part  of  a  cab  of  dove's 
dung  for  five  pieces  of  silver. 

263 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  as  the  king  of  Israel  was  passing  by  upon 
the  wall,  there  cried  a  Avoman  unto  him,  saying, 
Help,  my  lord,  0  king.  And  he  said.  If  the  Lokd 
do  not  help  thee,  whence  shall  I  help  thee?  out  of 
the  barnfloor,  or  out  of  the  winepress?  And  the 
king  said  unto  her.  What  aileth  thee?  And  she 
answered,  This  woman  said  unto  me.  Give  thy  son, 
that  we  may  eat  him  to  day,  and  we  will  eat  my 
son  to  morrow.  So  we  boiled  my  son,  and  did  eat 
him :  and  I  said  unto  her  on  the  next  day.  Give  thy 
son,  that  we  may  eat  him:  and  she  hath  hid  her 
son. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king  heard  the 
words  of  the  woman,  that  he  rent  his  clothes ;  and 
he  passed  by  upon  the  wall,  and  the  people  looked, 
and,  behold,  he  had  sackcloth  within  upon  his 
flesh.  Then  he  said,  God  do  so  and  more  also  to 
me,  if  the  head  of  Elisha  the  son  of  Shaphat  shall 
stand  on  him  this  day. 

But  Elisha  sat  in  his  house,  and  the  elders  sat 
with  him;  and  the  king  sent  a  man  from  before 
him:  but  ere  the  messenger  came  to  him,  he  said 
to  the  elders,  See  ye  how  this  son  of  a  murderer 
hath  sent  to  take  away  mine  head?  look,  when  the 
messenger  cometh,  shut  the  door,  and  hold  him 
fast  at  the  door:  is  not  the  sound  of  his  master's 
feet  behind  him? 

And  while  he  yet  talked  with  them,  behold,  the 
messenger  came  down  unto  him :  and  he  said.  Be- 
hold, this  evil  is  of  the  Lord  ;  what  should  I  wait 
for  the  Lord  any  longer? 

264 


BIBLE  STORIES 

LEPERS  ENTER  THE  CAMP 

(II.  Kings  vii.  1-11) 

Then  Elisha  said,  Hear  ye  the  word  of  the 
Lord  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  To  morrow  about  this 
time  shall  a  measure  of  fine  flour  he  sold  for  a 
shekel,  and  two  measures  of  barley  for  a  shekel, 
in  the  gate  of  Samaria.  Then  a  lord  on  whose 
hand  the  king  leaned  answered  the  man  of  God, 
and  said.  Behold,  if  the  Lord  would  make  windows 
in  heaven,  might  this  thing  be?  And  he  said.  Be- 
hold, thou  shalt  see  it  with  thine  eyes,  but  shalt 
not  eat  thereof. 

And  there  were  four  leprous  men  at  the  enter- 
ing in  of  the  gate :  and  they  said  one  to  another. 
Why  sit  we  here  until  we  die  f  If  we  say,  We  will 
enter  into  the  city,  then  the  famine  is  in  the  city, 
and  we  shall  die  there :  and  if  we  sit  still  here,  we 
die  also.  Now  therefore  come,  and  let  us  fall  unto 
the  host  of  the  Syrians :  if  they  save  us  alive,  we 
shall  live ;  and  if  they  kill  us,  we  shall  but  die. 

And  they  rose  up  in  the  twilight,  to  go  unto  the 
camp  of  the  Syrians :  and  when  they  were  come 
to  the  uttermost  part  of  the  camp  of  Syria,  be- 
hold, there  tvas  no  man  there.  For  the  Lord  had 
made  the  host  of  the  Syrians  to  hear  a  noise  of 
chariots,  and  a  noise  of  horses,  even  the  noise  of  a 
great  host:  and  they  said  one  to  another,  Lo,  the 
king  of  Israel  hath  hired  against  us  the  kings  of 
the  Hittites,  and  the  kings  of  the  Egyptians,  to 

265 


BIBLE  STORIES 

come  upon  us.  Wherefore  they  arose  and  fled  in 
the  twilight,  and  left  their  tents,  and  their  horses, 
and  their  asses,  even  the  camp  as  it  icas,  and  fled 
for  their  life. 

And  when  these  lepers  came  to  the  uttermost 
part  of  the  camp,  they  went  into  one  tent,  and  did 
eat  and  drink,  and  carried  thence  silver,  and  gold, 
and  raiment,  and  went  and  hid  if;  and  came  again, 
and  entered  into  another  tent,  and  carried  thence 
also,  and  went  and  hid  it.  Then  they  said  one  to 
another,  TVe  do  not  well :  this  day  is  a  day  of  good 
tidings,  and  we  hold  our  peace:  if  we  tarry  till 
the  morning  light,  some  mischief  will  come  upon 
us :  now  therefore  come,  that  we  may  go  and  tell 
the  king's  household.  So  they  came  and  called 
unto  the  porter  of  the  city:  and  they  told  them, 
saying,  We  came  to  the  camp  of  the  Syrians,  and, 
behold,  there  icas  no  man  there,  neither  voice  of 
man,  but  horses  tied,  and  asses  tied,  and  the  tents 
as  they  icere.  And  he  called  the  porters ;  and  they 
told  it  to  the  king's  house  within. 

And  the  people  went  out  and  spoiled  the  tents 
of  the  Syrians.  So  a  measure  of  fine  flour  was 
sold  for  a  shekel,  and  two  measures  of  barley  for 
a  shekel,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord. 

And  the  king  appointed  the  lord  on  whose  hand 
he  leaned  to  have  the  charge  of  the  gate :  and  the 
people  trode  upon  him  in  the  gate,  and  he  died,  as 
the  man  of  God  had  said,  who  spake  when  the  king 
came  down  to  him.  And  it  came  to  pass  as  the 
man  of  God  had  spoken  to  the  king,  saying,  Two 

266 


BIBLE  STORIES 

measures  of  barley  for  a  shekel,  and  a  measure  of 
fine  flour  for  a  shekel,  shall  be  to  morrow  about 
this  time  in  the  gate  of  Samaria :  and  that  lord 
answered  the  man  of  God,  and  said.  Now,  behold, 
if  the  Lord  should  make  windows  in  heaven,  might 
such  a  thing  be?  And  he  said.  Behold,  thou  shalt 
see  it  with  thine  eyes,  but  shalt  not  eat  thereof. 
And  so  it  fell  out  unto  him:  for  the  people  trode 
upon  him  in  the  gate,  and  he  died. 

HAZAEL  KILLETH  HIS  MASTER 

(II.  Kings  viii.  7-18) 

And  Elisha  came  to  Damascus ;  and  Ben-hadad 
the  king  of  Syria  was  sick;  and  it  was  told  him, 
saying,  The  man  of  God  is  come  hither.  And  the 
king  said  unto  Hazael,  Take  a  present  in  thine 
hand,  and  go,  meet  the  man  of  God,  and  inquire  of 
the  Lord  by  him,  saying.  Shall  I  recover  of  this 
disease?  So  Hazael  went  to  meet  him,  and  took 
a  present  with  him,  even  of  every  good  thing 
of  Damascus,  forty  camels '  burden,  and  came  and 
stood  before  him,  and  said,  Thy  son  Ben-hadad 
king  of  Syria  hath  sent  me  to  thee,  saying.  Shall 
I  recover  of  this  disease? 

And  Elisha  said  unto  him.  Go,  say  unto  him, 
Thou  mayest  certainly  recover :  howbeit  the  Lord 
hath  shewed  me  that  he  shall  surely  die. 

And  he  settled  his  countenance  stedfastly,  un- 
til he  was  ashamed:  and  the  man  of  God  wept. 
And  Hazael  said.  Why  weepeth  my  lord? 

*267 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  he  answered,  Because  I  know  the  evil  that 
thou  wilt  do  unto  the  children  of  Israel:  their 
strong  holds  wilt  thou  set  on  fire,  and  their  young 
men  wilt  thou  slay  with  the  sword,  and  mlt  dash 
their  children,  and  rip  up  their  women  Avith  child. 

And  Hazael  said.  But  what,  is  thy  servant  a 
dog,  that  he  should  do  this  great  thing? 

And  Elisha  answered,  The  Lokd  hath  shewed 
me  that  thou  slialt  he  king  over  Syria.  So  he  de- 
parted from  Elisha,  and  came  to  his  master ;  who 
said  to  him,  What  said  Elisha  to  thee?  And  he 
answered,  He  told  me  that  thou  shouldest  surely 
recover. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that  he 
took  a  thick  cloth,  and  dipped  it  in  water,  and 
spread  it  on  his  face,  so  that  he  died :  and  Hazael 
reigned  in  his  stead. 


DEATH  OF  JEZEBEL 

(II.  Kings  ix.  30-37) 

And  when  Jehu  was  come  to  Jezreel,  Jezebel 
heard  of  it;  and  she  painted  her  face,  and  tired  her 
head,  and  looked  out  at  a  window.  And  as  Jehu 
entered  in  at  the  gate,  she  said.  Had  Zimri  peace, 
who  slew  his  master?  And  he  lifted  up  his  face 
to  the  window,  and  said.  Who  is  on  my  side?  who? 
And  there  looked  out  to  him  two  or  three  eunuchs. 
And  he  said.  Throw  her  do^vn.  So  they  threw  her 
down :  and  some  of  her  blood  was  sprinkled  on  the 

268 


BIBLE  STORIES 

wall,  and  on  the  horses :  and  he  trode  her  under 
foot. 

And  when  he  was  come  in,  he  did  eat  and  drink, 
and  said,  Go,  see  now  this  cursed  tuoman,  and  bury 
her :  for  she  is  a  king 's  daughter.  And  they  went 
to  bury  her :  but  they  found  no  more  of  her  than 
the  skull,  and  the  feet,  and  the  palms  of  her  hands. 
Wherefore  they  came  again,  and  told  him.  And 
he  said.  This  is  the  word  of  the  Lord,  which  he 
spake  by  his  servant  Elijah  the  Tishbite,  saying. 
In  the  portion  of  Jezreel  shall  dogs  eat  the  flesh  of 
Jezebel:  and  the  carcass  of  Jezebel  shall  be  as 
dung  upon  the  face  of  the  field  in  the  portion  of 
Jezreel ;  so  that  they  shall  not  say,  This  is  Jezebel. 

THE  SHADOW  RETURNS  TEN  DEGREES 

(II.  Kings  XX.  1-11) 

In  those  days  was  Hezekiah  sick  unto  death. 
And  the  prophet  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz  came  to 
him,  and  said  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Set 
thine  house  in  order;  for  thou  shalt  die,  and  not 
live. 

Then  he  turned  his  face  to  the  wall,  and  prayed 
unto  the  Lord,  saying,  I  beseech  thee,  0  Lord, 
remember  now  how  I  have  walked  before  thee  in 
truth  and  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  have  done  that 
ivhich  is  good  in  thy  sight.  And  Hezekiah  wept 
sore. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  afore  Isaiah  was  gone  out 
into  the  middle  court,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord 

269 


BIBLE  STORIES 

came  to  him,  saying,  Turn  again,  and  tell  Heze- 
kiah  the  captain  of  my  people.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  the  God  of  David  thy  father,  I  have  heard 
thy  prayer,  I  have  seen  thy  tears :  behold,  I  will 
heal  thee :  on  the  third  day  thou  shalt  go  up  unto 
the  house  of  the  Lord.  And  I  will  add  unto  thy 
days  fifteen  years ;  and  I  will  deliver  thee  and  this 
city  out  of  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria;  and 
I  will  defend  this  city  for  mine  own  sake,  and  for 
my  servant  David's  sake. 

And  Isaiah  said.  Take  a  lump  of  figs.  And 
they  took  and  laid  it  on  the  boil,  and  he  recovered. 

And  Hezekiah  said  unto  Isaiah,  What  shall  be 
the  sign  that  the  Lord  will  heal  me,  and  that  I 
shall  go  up  into  the  house  of  the  Lord  the  third 
day?  And  Isaiah  said,  This  sign  shalt  thou  have 
of  the  Lord,  that  the  Lord  will  do  the  thing  that 
he  hath  spoken:  shall  the  shadow  go  forward  ten 
degrees,  or  go  back  ten  degrees? 

And  Hezekiah  answered.  It  is  a  light  thing  for 
the  shadow  to  go  down  ten  degrees:  nay,  but  let 
the  shadow  return  backward  ten  degrees.  And 
Isaiah  the  prophet  cried  unto  the  Lord:  and  he 
brought  the  shadow  ten  degrees  backward,  by 
which  it  had  gone  down  in  the  dial  of  Ahaz. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

NEHEMTAH  BUILDED  THE  WALL 
OF  JERUSALEM 

(Xehemiali  vi.  1-16) 

Now  it  came  to  pass,  when  Saiiballat,  and 
Tobiah,  and  Gcshcm  the  Arabian,  and  the  rest  of 
our  enemies,  heard  that  I  had  builded  the  wall, 
and  that  there  was  no  breach  left  therein ;  (thons^h 
at  that  time  I  had  not  set  up  the  doors  upon  the 
^^ates;)  that  Sanballat  and  Geshem  sent  unto  me, 
saying,  Come,  let  us  meet  together  in  so7ne  one  of 
the  villages  in  the  plain  of  Ono.  But  they  thought 
to  do  me  mischief.  And  I  sent  messengers  unto 
them,  saying,  I  am  doing  a  great  work,  so  that  I 
cannot  come  down:  why  should  the  work  cease, 
whilst  I  leave  it,  and  come  down  to  you  1  Yet  they 
sent  unto  me  four  times  after  this  sort ;  and  I  an- 
swered them  after  the  same  manner. 

Then  sent  Sanballat  his  servant  unto  me  in  like 
manner  the  fifth  time  with  an  open  letter  in  his 
hand ;  wherein  tvas  written,  It  is  reported  among 
the  heathen,  and  Gashmu  saith  it,  that  thou  a]id 
the  Jews  think  to  rebel:  for  which  cause  thou 
buildest  the  wall,  that  thou  mayest  be  their  king, 
according  to  these  words.  And  thou  hast  also  ap- 
pointed prophets  to  preach  of  thee  at  Jerusalem, 
saying.  There  is  a  king  in  Judah:  and  now  shall 
it  be  reported  to  the  king  according  to  these  words. 
Come  now  therefore,  and  let  us  take  counsel  to- 
gether.   Then  I  sent  unto  him,  saying,  There  are 

271 


BIBLE  STORIES 

no  such  things  done  as  thou  sayest,  but  thou 
feignest  them  out  of  thine  own  heart.  For  they 
all  made  us  afraid,  saying,  Their  hands  shall  be 
weakened  from  the  work,  that  it  be  not  done. 
Now  therefore,  0  God,  strengthen  my  hands. 

Afterward  I  came  unto  the  house  of  Shemaiah 
the  son  of  Delaiah  the  son  of  Mehetabeel,  who  ivas 
shut  up ;  and  he  said.  Let  us  meet  together  in  the 
house  of  God,  within  the  temple,  and  let  us  shut 
the  doors  of  the  temple :  for  they  will  come  to  slay 
thee ;  yea,  in  the  night  will  they  come  to  slay  thee. 
And  I  said.  Should  such  a  man  as  I  flee  f  and  who 
is  there,  that,  being  as  I  am,  would  go  into  the 
temple  to  save  his  life?  I  will  not  go  in.  And,  lo, 
I  perceived  that  God  had  not  sent  him ;  but  that  he 
pronounced  this  prophecy  against  me :  for  Tobiah 
and  Sanballat  had  hired  him.  Therefore  ivas  he 
hired,  that  I  should  be  afraid,  and  do  so,  and  sin, 
and  that  they  might  have  matter  for  an  evil  re- 
port, that  they  might  reproach  me.  My  God,  think 
thou  upon  Tobiah  and  Sanballat  according  to  these 
their  works,  and  on  the  prophetess  Noadiah,  and 
the  rest  of  the  prophets,  that  would  have  put  me 
in  fear. 

So  the  wall  was  finished  in  the  twenty  and  fifth 
day  of  the  month  Elul,  in  fifty  and  two  days. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  all  our  enemies 
heard  thereof,  and  all  the  heathen  that  ivere  about 
us  saw  these  things,  they  were  much  cast  down  in 
their  own  eyes :  for  they  perceived  that  this  work 
was  wrought  of  our  God 

272 


BIBLE  STORIES 


JEREMIAH'S  LINEN  GIRDLE 

(Jeremiah  xiii.  1-0) 

Tims  saitli  the  Lord  unto  me,  Go  and  get  thee 
a  linen  girdle,  and  put  it  upon  thy  loins,  and  put 


Fig.  23. — Jeremiah. 

Michael  Angela. 
Sistine  Chapel,  Rome. 

it  not  in  water.    So  I  got  a  girdle  according  to  tlie 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  put  it  on  my  loins. 

And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me  the  sec- 
ond time,  saying.  Take  the  girdle  that  thou  hast 
got,  which  is  upon  thy  loins,  and  arise,  go  to 
Euphrates,  and  hide  it  there  in  a  nole  of  the  rock. 
So  I  went,  and  hid  it  by  Euphrates,  as  the  Lord 
commanded  me. 

273 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  many  days,  that  the 
Lord  said  unto  me,  Arise,  go  to  Euphrates,  and 
take  the  girdle  from  thence,  which  I  commanded 
thee  to  hide  there.  Then  I  went  to  Euphrates, 
and  digged,  and  took  the  girdle  from  the  place 
where  I  had  hid  it:  and,  behold,  the  girdle  was 
marred,  it  was  profitable  for  nothing. 

Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me,  say- 
ing. Thus  saith  the  Lord,  After  this  manner  will 
I  mar  the  pride  of  Judali,  and  the  great  pride  of 
Jerusalem. 


JEREMIAH  IN  THE  LOWER  DUNGEON 

(Jeremiah  xxxviii.  2-13) 

Thus  saith  the  Lord,  He  that  remaineth  in  this 
city  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by 
the  pestilence :  but  he  that  goeth  forth  to  the 
Chaldeans  shall  live ;  for  he  shall  have  his  life  for 
a  prey,  and  shall  live.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  This 
city  shall  surely  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
king  of  Babylon's  army,  which  shall  take  it. 

Therefore  the  princes  said  unto  the  king,  We 
beseech  thee,  let  this  man  be  put  to  death :  for  thus 
he  weakeneth  the  hands  of  the  men  of  war  that  re- 
main in  this  city,  and  the  hands  of  all  the  people, 
in  speaking  such  words  unto  them:  for  this  man 
seeketh  not  the  welfare  of  this  people,  but  the 
hurt. 

Then  Zedekiah  the  king  said.  Behold,  he  is  in 
274 


BIBLE  STORIES 

your  hand :  for  the  king  is  not  he  that  can  do  any 
thing  against  you. 

Then  took  they  Jeremiah,  and  cast  him  into  the 
dungeon  of  Malchiah  thp  son  of  Hammelech,  that 
ivas  in  the  court  of  the  prison :  and  tliey  let  down 
Jeremiah  with  cords.  And  in  the  dungeon  there 
icas  no  water,  but  mire:  so  Jeremiah  sunk  in  the 
mire. 

Now  when  Ebed-melech  the  Ethiopian,  one  of 
the  eunuchs  which  was  in  the  king's  house,  heard 
that  they  had  put  Jeremiah  in  the  dungeon ;  the 
king  then  sitting  in  the  gate  of  Benjamin;  Ebed- 
melech  w^ent  forth  out  of  the  king's  house,  and 
spake  to  the  king,  saying.  My  lord  the  king,  these 
men  have  done  evil  in  all  that  they  have  done  to 
Jeremiah  the  prophet,  whom  they  have  cast  into 
the  dungeon;  and  he  is  like  to  die  for  hunger  in 
the  place  where  he  is :  for  there  is  no  more  bread 
in  the  city. 

Then  the  king  commanded  Ebed-melech  the 
Ethiopian,  saying,  Take  from  hence  thirty  men 
with  thee,  and  take  up  Jeremiah  the  prophet  out 
of  the  dungeon,  before  he  die.  So  Ebed-melech 
took  the  men  with  him,  and  went  into  the  house 
of  the  king  under  the  treasury,  and  took  thence  old 
cast  clouts  and  old  rotten  rags,  and  let  them  down 
by  cords  into  the  dungeon  to  Jeremiah.  And 
Ebed-melech  the  Ethiopian  said  unto  Jeremiah, 
Put  now  these  old  cast  clouts  and  rotten  rags  un- 
der thine  armholes  under  the  cords.  And  Jere- 
miah did  so.     So  they  drew  up  Jeremiah  with 

275 


BIBLE  STORIES 

cords,  and  took  him  up  out  of  the  dungeon:  and 
Jeremiah  remained  in  the  court  of  the  prison. 

ESTHER 

(Esther  i.-viii) 

Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of  Ahasuerus 
(Xerxes)  (this  is  Ahasuerus  which  reigned  from 
India  even  unto  Ethiopia,  over  a  hundred  and 
seven  and  twenty  provinces,)  that  in  those  days, 
when  the  king  Ahasuerus  sat  on  the  throne  of  his 
kingdom,  which  2vas  in  Shushan  the  palace,  in  the 
third  year  of  his  reign,  he  made  a  feast  unto  all 
his  princes  and  his  servants ;  the  power  of  Persia 
and  Media,  the  nobles  and  princes  of  the  prov- 
inces, being  before  him:  when  he  shewed  the 
riches  of  his  glorious  kingdom  and  the  honour  of 
his  excellent  majesty  many  days,  even  a  hundred 
and  fourscore  days. 

And  when  these  days  were  expired,  the  king 
made  a  feast  unto  all  the  people  that  were  present 
in  Shushan  the  palace,  both  unto  great  and  small, 
seven  days,  in  the  court  of  the  garden  of  the 
king's  palace;  where  ivere  white,  green,  and  blue 
hangings,  fastened  with  cords  of  fine  linen  and 
purple  to  silver  rings  and  pillars  of  marble:  the 
beds  were  of  gold  and  silver,  upon  a  pavement  of 
red,  and  blue,  and  white,  and  black  marble.  And 
they  gave  them  drink  in  vessels  of  gold,  (the  ves- 
sels being  diverse  one  from  another,)  and  royal 
wine  in  abundance,  according  to  the  state  of  the 

276 


BIBLE  STORIES 

king".  And  the  drinking  ivas  according  to  the  law ; 
none  did  compel :  for  so  the  king  had  appointed 
to  all  the  oflQcers  of  his  house,  that  they  should  do 
according  to  every  man's  pleasure.  Also  Vashti 
the  queen  made  a  feast  for  the  women  in  the  royal 
house  which  belonged  to  king  Ahasuerus. 

On  the  seventh  day,  when  the  heart  of  the  king 
was  merry  with  wine,  he  commanded  Mehuman, 
Biztha,  Harbona,  Bigtha,  and  Abagtha,  Zethar, 
and  Carcas,  the  seven  chamberlains  that  served  in 
the  presence  of  Ahasuerus  the  king,  to  bring 
Vashti  the  queen  before  the  king  with  the  crown 
royal,  to  shew  the  people  and  the  princes  her 
beauty :  for  she  was  fair  to  look  on. 

Queen  Vashti  Befuses  to  Appear  before 
THE  King 

But  the  queen  Vashti  refused  to  come  at  the 
king's  commandment  by  his  chamberlains:  there- 
fore was  the  king  very  wroth,  and  his  anger 
burned  in  him.  Then  the  king  said  to  the  wise 
men,  which  knew  the  times.  What  shall  we  do  unto 
the  queen  Vashti  according  to  law,  because  she 
hath  not  performed  the  commandment  of  the  king 
Ahasuerus  by  the  chamberlains? 

And  Memucan  answered  before  the  king  and 
the  princes,  Vashti  the  queen  hath  not  done  wrong 
to  the  king  only,  but  also  to  all  the  princes,  and  to 
all  the  people  that  are  in  all  the  provinces  of  the 
king  Ahasuerus.  For  this  deed  of  the  queen  shall 
come  abroad  unto  all  women,  so  that  they  shall 

277 


BIBLE  STORIES 

despise  their  husbands  in  their  eyes,  when  it  shall 
be  reported.  The  king  Ahasuerus  commanded 
Vashti  the  qneen  to  be  brought  in  before  him,  but 
she  came  not.  Likewise  shall  the  ladies  of  Persia 
and  Media  say  this  day  unto  all  the  king's  princes, 
which  have  heard  of  the  deed  of  the  queen.  Thus 
shall  there  arise  too  much  contempt  and  wrath. 
If  it  please  the  king,  let  there  go  a  royal  com- 
mandment from  him,  and  let  it  be  written  among 
the  laws  of  the  Persians  and  the  Medes,  that  it 
be  not  altered,  that  Vashti  come  no  more  before 
king  Ahasuerus;  and  let  the  king  give  her  royal 
estate  unto  another  that  is  better  than  she.  And 
when  the  king 's  decree,  which  he  shall  make,  shall 
be  published  throughout  all  his  empire,  (for  it  is 
great,)  all  the  wives  shall  give  to  their  husbands 
honour,  both  to  great  and  small.  And  the  saying 
pleased  the  king  and  the  princes ;  and  the  king  did 
according  to  the  word  of  Memucan:  for  he  sent 
letters  into  all  the  king's  provinces,  into  every 
province  according  to  the  writing  thereof,  and  to 
every  people  after  their  language,  that  every  man 
should  bear  rule  in  his  own  house,  and  that  it 
should  be  published  according  to  the  language  of 
every  people. 

After  these  things,  when  the  wrath  of  king 
Ahasuerus  was  appeased,  he  remembered  Vashti, 
and  what  she  had  done,  and  what  was  decreed 
against  her.  Then  said  the  king's  servants  that 
ministered  unto  him.  Let  there  be  fair  young  vir- 
gins sought  for  the  king :  and  let  the  king  appoint 

278 


BIBLE  STORIES 

officers  in  all  the  provinces  of  his  kingdom,  that 
they  may  gather  together  all  the  fair  young  vir- 
gins unto  Shushan  the  palace,  to  the  house  of  the 
women,  unto  the  custody  of  Hege  the  king 's  cham- 
berlain, keeper  of  the  women ;  and  let  their  things 
for  purification  be  given  them:  and  let  the  maiden 
which  pleaseth  the  king  be  queen  instead  of 
Vashti.  And  the  thing  pleased  the  king;  and  he 
did  so. 

Noiv  in  Shushan  the  palace  there  was  a  certain 
Jew,  whose  name  ivas  Mordecai,  the  son  of  Jair, 
the  son  of  Shimei,  the  son  of  Kish,  a  Benjamite; 
who  had  been  carried  away  from  Jerusalem  with 
the  captivity  which  had  been  carried  away  with 
Jeconi^h  king  of  Judah,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar 
the  king  of  Babylon  had  carried  away.  And  he 
brought  up  Esther,  his  uncle's  daughter:  for  she 
had  neither  father  nor  mother,  and  the  maid  ivas 
fair  and  beautiful;  whom  Mordecai,  when  her 
father  and  mother  were  dead,  took  for  his  own 
daughter. 

Esther  Pleases  King  Ahasuerus 

So  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king's  command- 
ment and  his  decree  was  heard,  and  when  many 
maidens  were  gathered  together  unto  Shushan 
the  palace,  to  the  custody  of  Hegai,  that  Esther 
was  brought  also  unto  the  king's  house,  to  the  cus- 
tody of  Hegai,  keeper  of  the  women.  And  the 
maiden  pleased  him,  and  she  obtained  kindness  of 
him ;  and  he  speedily  gave  her  her  things  for  puri- 

279 


BIBLE  STORIES 

fication,  with  such  things  as  belonged  to  her,  and 
seven  maidens,  which  were  meet  to  be  given  her, 
out  of  the  king 's  house :  and  he  preferred  her  and 
her  maids  unto  the  best  place  of  the  house  of  the 
women.  Esther  had  not  shewed  her  people  nor 
her  kindred :  for  Mordecai  had  charged  her  that 
she  should  not  shew  it.  And  Mordecai  walked 
every  day  before  the  court  of  the  women's  house, 
to  know  how  Esther  did,  and  what  should  become 
of  her. 

Now  when  the  turn  of  Esther,  the  daughter  of 
Abihail  the  uncle  of  Mordecai,  who  had  taken  her 
for  his  daughter,  was  come  to  go  unto  the  king, 
she  required  nothing  but  what  Hegai  the  king's 
chamberlain,  the  keeper  of  the  women,  appointed. 
And  Esther  obtained  favour  in  the  sight  of  all 
them  that  looked  upon  her.  So  Esther  was  taken 
unto  king  Ahasuerus  into  his  house  royal  in  the 
tenth  month,  which  is  the  month  Tebeth,  in  the 
seventh  year  of  his  reign.  And  the  king  loved 
Esther  above  all  the  women,  and  she  obtained 
grace  and  favour  in  his  sight  more  than  all  the 
virgins ;  so  that  he  set  the  royal  crown  upon  her 
head,  and  made  her  queen  instead  cf  Vashti.  Then 
the  king  made  a  great  feast  unto  all  his  princes 
and  his  servants,  even  Esther's  feast;  and  he 
made  a  release  to  the  provinces,  and  gave  gifts, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  king.  And  when  the 
virgins  were  gathered  together  the  second  time, 
then  Mordecai  sat  in  the  king's  gate.  Esther  had 
not  yet  shewed  her  kindred  nor  her  people,  as 

280 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Mordecai  had  charged  her :  for  Esther  did  the 
commandment  of  Mordecai,  Uke  as  when  she  was 
brought  up  with  him. 

In  those  days,  while  Mordecai  sat  in  the  king's 
gate,  two  of  the  king's  chamberlains,  Bigthan  and 
Teresh,  of  those  which  kept  the  door,  were  wroth, 
and  sought  to  lay  hand  on  the  king  Ahasuerus. 
And  the  thing  was  known  to  Mordecai,  who  told 
it  unto  Esther  the  queen;  and  Esther  certified 
the  king  thereof  in  Mordecai 's  name.  And  when 
inquisition  was  made  of  the  matter,  it  was  found 
out;  therefore  they  were  both  ha7iged  on  a  tree: 
andvit  was  written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles 
before  the  king, 

Haman  Plans  to  Desteoy  the  Jews 

After  these  things  did  king  Ahasuerus  promote 
Haman,  and  advanced  him,  and  set  his  seat  above 
all  the  princes  that  were  with  him.  And  all  the 
king's  servants,  that  tvere  in  the  king's  gate, 
bowed,  and  reverenced  Haman:  for  the  king  had 
so  commanded  concerning  him.  But  Mordecai 
bowed  not,  nor  did  him  reverence.  Then  the 
king's  servants,  which  were  in  the  king's  gate, 
said  unto  Mordecai,  Why  transgressest  thou  the 
king's  commandment?  Now  it  came  to  pass,  when 
they  spake  daily  unto  him,  and  he  hearkened  not 
unto  them,  that  they  told  Haman,  to  see  whether 
Mordecai 's  matters  would  stand:  for  he  had  told 
them  that  he  was  a  Jew. 

And  when  Haman  saw  that  Mordecai  bowed  not, 
281 


BIBLE  STORIES 

nor  did  him  reverence,  then  was  Haman  full  of 
wrath.  And  he  thought  scorn  to  lay  hands  on 
Mordecai  alone ;  for  they  had  shewed  him  the  peo- 
ple of  Mordecai:  wherefore  Haman  sought  to 
destroy  all  the  Jews  that  were  throughout  the 
whole  kingdom  of  Ahasuerus,  even  the  people  of 
Mordecai. 

In  the  first  month,  that  is,  the  month  Nisan,  in 
the  twelfth  year  of  king  Ahasuerus,  they  cast  Pur, 
that  is,  the  lot,  before  Haman  from  day  to  day, 
and  from  month  to  month,  to  the  twelfth  month, 
that  is,  the  month  Adar.  And  Haman  said  unto 
king  Ahasuerus,  There  is  a  certain  people  scat- 
tered abroad  and  dispersed  among  the  people  in 
all  the  provinces  of  thy  kingdom ;  and  their  laws 
are  diverse  from  all  people ;  neither  keep  they  the 
king's  laws:  therefore  it  is  not  for  the  king's 
profit  to  suffer  them.  If  it  please  the  king,  let  it 
be  written  that  they  may  be  destroyed ;  and  I  will 
pay  ten  thousand  talents  of  silver  to  the  hands  of 
those  that  have  the  charge  of  the  business,  to 
bring  it  into  the  king's  treasuries.  And  the  king 
took  his  ring  from  his  hand,  and  gave  it  unto 
Haman,  the  Jew 's  enemy.  And  the  king  said  unto 
Haman,  The  silver  is  given  to  thee,  the  people 
also,  to  do  with  them  as  it  seemeth  good  to  thee. 

Then  were  the  king's  scribes  called  on  the 
thirteenth  day  of  the  first  month,  and  there  was 
written  according  to  all  that  Haman  had  com- 
manded unto  the  king's  lieutenants,  and  to  the 
governors  that  were  over  every  province,  and  to 

282 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  rulers  of  every  people  of  every  province 
according  to  the  writing  thereof,  and  to  every 
people  after  their  language ;  in  the  name  of  king 
Ahasuerus  was  it  written,  and  sealed  with  the 
king's  ring. 

And  the  letters  were  sent  by  posts  into  all  the 
king's  provinces,  to  destroy,  to  kill,  and  to  cause 
to  perish,  all  Jews,  both  young  and  old,  little  chil- 
dren and  worcen,  in  one  day,  even  upon  the  thir- 
teenth dai/  of  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  the 
month  Adar,  and  to  take  the  spoil  of  them  for  a 
prey.  The  copy  of  the  writing  for  a  command- 
ment to  be  given  in  every  province  was  published 
unto  all  people,  that  they  should  be  ready  against 
that  day.  The  posts  went  out,  being  hastened  by 
the  king's  commandment,  and  the  decree  was 
given  in  Shushan  the  palace.  And  the  king  and 
Haman  sat  down  to  drink;  but  the  city  Shushan 
was  perplexed. 

MoRDECAi  Urges  Esther  to  go  to  the  King 

When  Mordecai  perceived  all  that  was  done, 
Mordecai  rent  his  clothes,  and  put  on  sackcloth 
with  ashes,  and  went  out  into  the  midst  of  the  city, 
and  cried  with  a  loud  and  a  bitter  cry ;  and  came 
even  before  the  king's  gate:  for  none  might  enter 
into  the  king's  gate  clothed  with  sackcloth.  And 
in  every  province,  whithersoever  the  king's  com- 
mandment and  his  decree  came,  there  was  great 
mourning  among  the  Jews,  and  fasting,  and  weep- 
ing, and  wailing;  and  many  lay  in  sackcloth  and 

283' 


BIBLE  STORIES 

ashes.  So  Esther's  maids  and  her  chamberlains 
came  and  told  if  her.  Then  was  the  queen  exceed- 
ingly grieved;  and  she  sent  raiment  to  clothe 
Mordecai,  and  to  take  away  his  sackcloth  from 
him:  but  he  received  it  not.  Then  called  Esther 
for  Hatach,  o)ie  of  the  king's  chamberlains,  whom 
he  had  appointed  to  attend  upon  her,  and  gave  him 
a  commandment  to  Mordecai,  to  know  what  it  was, 
and  why  it  was. 

So  Hatach  went  forth  to  Mordecai  unto  the 
street  of  the  city,  which  was  before  the  king's  gate. 
And  Mordecai  told  him  of  all  that  had  happened 
unto  him,  and  of  the  sum  of  the  money  that  Haman 
had  promised  to  pay  to  the  king's  treasuries  for 
the  Jews,  to  destroy  them.  Also  he  gave  him 
the  copy  of  the  writing  of  the  decree  that 
was  given  at'  Shushan  to  destroy  them,  to 
shew  it  unto  Esther,  and  to  declare  it  unto 
her,  and  to  charge  her  that  she  should  go  in 
unto  the  king,  to  make  supplication  unto  him,  and 
to  make  request  before  him  for  her  people.  And 
Hatach  came  and  told  Esther  the  words  of  Morde- 
cai. Again  Esther  spake  unto  Hatach,  and  gave 
him  commandment  unto  Mordecai.  All  the  king's 
servants,  and  the  people  of  the  king's  provinces, 
do  know,  that  whosoever,  whether  man  or  woman, 
shall  come  unto  the  king  into  the  inner  court, 
who  is  not  called,  there  is  one  law  of  his  to  put  him 
to  death,  except  such  to  whom  the  king  shall  hold 
out  the  golden  sceptre,  that  he  may  live:  but  I 
have  not  been  called  to  come  in  unto  the  king  these 

284 


BIBLE  STORIES 

thirty  days.    And  they  told  to  Mordecai  Esther's 
words. 

Then  Mordecai  commanded  to  answer  Esther, 
Think  not  with  thyself  that  thou  shalt  escape  in 
the  king's  house,  more  than  all  the  Jews.  For  if 
thou  altogether  holdest  thy  peace  at  this  time,  tJien 
shall  there  enlargement  and  deliverance  arise  to 
the  Jews  from  another  place;  but  thou  and  thy 
father's  house  shall  be  destroyed:  and  who  know- 
etli  whether  thou  art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  sucli 
a  time  as  this!  Then  Esther  bade  them  return 
Mordecai  this  ansiver,  Go,  gather  together  all  the 
Jews  that  are  present  in  Shushan,  and  fast  ye  for 
me,  and  neither  eat  nor  drink  three  days,  night  or 
day :  I  also  and  my  maidens  will  fast  likewise ; 
and  so  will  I  go  in  unto  the  king,  which  is  not 
according  to  the  law:  and  if  I  perish,  I  perish. 
So  Moi  decai  went  his  way,  and  did  according  to  all 
that  Esther  had  commanded  him. 

Esther  Invites  the  King  and  Haman  to 
A  Banquet 

Now  it  came  to  pass  on  the  third  day,  that 
Esther  put  on  her  royal  apparel,  and  stood  in  the 
inner  court  of  the  king's  house,  over  against  the 
king's  house:  and  the  king  sat  upon  his  royal 
throne  in  the  royal  house,  over  against  the  gate 
of  the  house.  And  it  was  so,  when  the  king  saw 
Esther  the  queen  standing  in  the  court,  that  she 
obtained  favour  in  his  sight :  and  the  king  held  out 
to  Esther  the  golden  sceptre  that  was  in  his  hand. 

2S5 


BIBLE  STORIES 

So  Esther  drew  near,  and  touched  the  top  of  the 
sceptre.  Then  said  the  king  unto  her,  What  wilt 
thou,  queen  Esther?  and  what  is  thy  request?  it 
shall  be  even  given  thee  to  the  half  of  the  king- 
dom. And  Esther  answered,  If  it  seem  good  unto 
the  king,  let  the  king  and  Hamaii  come  this  day 
unto  the  banquet  that  I  have  prepared  for  him. 
Then  the  king  said.  Cause  Haman  to  make  haste, 
that  he  may  do  as  Esther  hath  said.  So  the  king 
and  Haman  came  to  the  banquet  that  Esther  had 
prepared. 

And  the  king  said  unto  Esther  at  the  banquet 
of  wine,  What  is  thy  petition?  and  it  shall  be 
granted  thee :  and  what  is  thy  request?  even  to  the 
half  of  the  kingdom  it  shall  be  performed.  Then 
answered  Esther,  and  said.  My  petition  and  my 
request  is;  if  I  have  found  favour  in  the  sight  of 
the  king,  and  if  it  please  the  king  to  grant  my  peti- 
tion, and  to  perform  my  request,  let  the  king  and 
Haman  come  to  the  banquet  that  I  shall  prepare 
for  them,  and  I  will  do  to  morrow  as  the  king  hath 
said. 

Then  went  Haman  forth  that  day  joyful  and 
with  a  glad  heart :  but  when  Haman  saw  Mordecai 
in  the  king's  gate,  that  he  stood  not  up,  nor  moved 
for  him,  he  was  full  of  indignation  against  Mor- 
decai. Nevertheless  Haman  refrained  himself: 
and  when  he  came  home,  he  sent  and  called  for  his 
friends,  and  Zeresh  his  wife.  And  Haman  told 
them  of  the  glory  of  his  riches,  and  the  multitude 
of  his  children,  and  all  fltr  things  wherein  the  king 

286 


BIBLE  STORIES 

had  promoted  him,  and  how  he  had  advanced  him 
above  the  princes  and  servants  of  the  king.  Haman 
said  moreover,  Yea,  Esther  the  queen  did  let  no 
man  come  in  with  the  king  unto  the  banquet  that 
she  had  prepared  but  myself;  and  to  morrow  am 
I  invited  unto  her  also  with  the  king.  Yet  all  this 
availeth  me  nothing,  so  Jong  as  I  see  Mordecai  the 
Jew  sitting  at  the  king's  gate.  Then  said  Zeresh 
his  wife  and  all  his  friends  unto  him.  Let  a  gallows 
be  made  of  fifty  cubits  high,  and  to  morrow  speak 
thou  unto  the  king  that  Mordecai  may  be  hanged 
thereon  :  then  go  thou  in  merrily  with  the  king  unto 
the  banquet.  And  the  thing  pleased  Haman;  and 
he  caused  the  gallows  to  be  made 

The  King  Is  Sleepless 

On  that  night  could  not  the  king  sleep,  and  he 
commanded  to  bring  the  book  of  records  of  the 
chronicles;  and  they  were  read  before  the  king. 
And  it  was  found  written,  that  Mordecai  had  told 
of  Bigthana  and  Teresh,  two  of  the  king's  cham- 
berlains, the  keepers  of  the  door,  who  sought  to 
lay  hand  on  the  king  Ahasuerus.  And  the  king 
said.  What  honour  and  dignity  hath  been  done 
to  Mordecai  for  this?  Then  said  the  king's  ser- 
vants that  ministered  unto  him,  There  is  nothing 
done  for  him. 

And  the  king  said,  Who  is  in  the  court?  Now 
Haman  was  come  into  the  outward  court  of  the 
king's  house,  to  speak  unto  the  king  to  hang  Mor- 
decai on  the  gallows  that  he  had  prepared  for  him. 

287 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  the  king's  servants  said  unto  him,  Behold, 
Haman  standeth  in  the  court. 

And  the  king  said,  Let  him  come  in.  So  Haman 
came  in.  And  the  king  said  unto  him,  Wliat  shall 
be  done  unto  the  man  whom  the  king  delighteth 
to  honour?  Now  Haman  thought  in  his  heart.  To 
whom  would  the  king  delight  to  do  honour  more 
than  to  myself?  And  Haman  answered  the  king. 
For  the  man  whom  the  king  delighteth  to  honour, 
let  the  royal  apparel  he  brought  which  the  king 
usetJi  to  wear,  and  the  horse  that  the  king  rideth 
upon,  and  the  crown  royal  which  is  set  upon  his 
head ;  and  let  this  apparel  and  horse  be  delivered 
to  the  hand  of  one  of  the  king's  most  noble  princes, 
that  they  may  array  the  man  ivithal  whom  the  king 
delighteth  to  honour,  and  bring  him  on  horseback 
through  the  street  of  the  city,  and  proclaim  before 
him.  Thus  shall  it  be  done  to  the  man  whom  the 
king  delighteth  to  honour 

Then  the  king  said  to  Haman,  Make  haste,  and 
take  the  apparel  and  the  horse,  as  thou  hast  said, 
and  do  even  so  to  Mordecai  the  Jew,  that  sitteth 
at  the  king 's  gate :  let  nothing  fail  of  all  that  thou 
hast  spoken.  Then  took  Haman  the  apparel  and 
the  horse,  and  arrayed  Mordecai,  and  brought  him 
on  horseback  through  the  street  of  the  city,  and 
proclaimed  before  him.  Thus  shall  it  be  done  unto 
the  man  whom  the  king  delightf^th  to  honour.  And 
Mordecai  came  again  to  the  king's  gate.  But 
Haman  hasted  to  his  house  mourning,  and  having 
his  head  covered.     And  Haman  told  Zeresh  his 

288 


BIBLE  STORIES 

wife  and  all  his  friends  every  thing  that  had 
befallen  him.  Then  said  his  Avise  men  and  Zeresli 
his  wife  unto  him,  If  Mordecai  be  of  the  seed  of 
the  Jews,  before  whom  thou  hast  begun  to  fall, 
thou  shalt  not  prevail  against  him,  but  shalt  surely 
fall  before  him.  And  while  they  ivere  yet  talking 
with  him,  came  the  king's  chamberlains,  and 
hasted  to  bring  Haman  unto  the  banquet  that 
Esther  had  prepared. 

So  the  king  and  Haman  came  to  banquet  with 
Esther  the  queen.  And  the  king  said  again  unto 
Esther  on  the  second  day  at  the  banquet  of  wine, 
What  is  thy  petition,  queen  Esther?  and  it  shall 
be  granted  thee :  and  what  is  thy  reauest  ?  and  it 
shall  be  performed,  even  to  the  half  (jf  the  king- 
dom. Then  Esther  the  queen  answered  and  said. 
If  I  have  found  favour  in  thy  sight,  0  king,  and 
if  it  please  the  king,  let  my  life  be  given  me  at  my 
petition,  and  my  people  at  my  request :  for  we  are 
sold,  I  and  my  people,  t(}  be  destroyed,  to  be  slain, 
and  to  perish.  But  if  we  had  been  sold  for  bond- 
men and  bondwomen,  T  had  held  my  tongue, 
although  the  enemy  could  not  couiitervail  the 
king's  damage- 
Then  the  king  Ahasuerus  answered  and  said 
unto  Esther  the  queen.  Who  is  he,  and  where  is 
he,  that  durst  presume  in  his  heart  to  do  so?  And 
Esther  said.  The  adversary  and  enemy  is  this 
wicked  Haman.  Then  Haman  was  afraid  before 
the  king  and  the  queen. 

And  the  king  arising  from  the  banquet  of  wine 
289 


BIBLE  STORIES 

in  his  wrath  went  into  tlie  palace  garden:  and 
Haman  stood  up  to  make  request  for  his  life  to 
Esther  the  queen;  for  he  saw  that  there  was  evil 
determined  against  him  by  the  king.  Then  the 
king  returned  out  of  the  palace  garden  into  the 
place  of  the  banquet  of  wine;  and  Haman  was 
fallen  upon  the  bed  whereon  Esther  tvas. 

And  Harbonah,  one  of  the  chamberlains,  said 
before  the  king,  Behold  also  the  gallows  fifty 
cubits  high,  which  Haman  had  made  for  Mordecai, 
who  had  spoken  good  for  the  king,  standeth  in 
the  house  of  Haman.  Then  the  king  said,  Hang 
him  thereon.  So  they  hanged  Haman  on  the 
gallows  that  he  had  prepared  for  Mordecai.  Then 
was  the  king's  wrath  pacified. 

On  that  day  did  the  king  Ahasuerus  give  the 
house  of  Haman  the  Jews'  enemy  unto  Esther 
the  queen.  And  Mordecai  came  before  the  king; 
for  Esther  had  told  what  he  was  unto  her.  And 
the  king  took  off  his  ring,  which  he  had  taken  from 
Haman,  and  gave  it  unto  Mordecai.  And  Esther 
set  Mordecai  over  the  house  of  Haman.  And 
Esther  spake  yet  again  before  the  king,  and  fell 
down  at  his  feet,  and  besought  him  with  tears  to 
put  away  the  mischief  of  Haman  the  Agagite,  and 
his  device  that  he  had  devised  against  the  Jews. 
Then  the  king  held  out  the  golden  sceptre  toward 
Esther.  So  Esther  arose,  and  stood  before  the 
king,  and  said,  If  it  please  the  king,  and  if  I  have 
found  favour  in  his  sight,  and  the  thing  seem 
right  before  the  king,  and  1  he  pleasing  in  his 

290 


BIBLE  STORIES 

eyes,  let  it  be  written  to  reverse  the  letters  devised 
by  Haman  the  Agagite,  which  he  wrote  to  destroy 
the  Jews  which  are  in  all  the  king's  provinces: 
for  how  can  I  endure  to  see  the  evil  that  shall  come 
unto  my  people?  or  how  can  I  endure  to  see  the 
destruction  of  my  kindred?  Then  the  king 
Ahasuerus  said  unto  Esther  the  queen  and  to 
Mordecai  the  Jew,  Behold,  I  have  given  Esther 
the  house  of  Haman,  and  him  they  have  hanged 
upon  the  gallows,  because  he  laid  his  hand  upon 
the  Jews.  AVrite  ye  also  for  the  Jews,  as  it  liketh 
you,  in  the  king's  name,  and  seal  it  with  the  king's 
ring :  for  the  writing  which  is  written  in  the  king's 
name,  and  sealed  with  the  king's  ring,  may  no 
man  reverse. 

And  Mordecai  went  out  from  the  presence  of 
the  king  in  royal  apparel  of  blue  and  white,  and 
with  a  great  crown  of  gold,  and  with  a  garment 
of  fine  linen  and  purple :  and  the  city  of  Shushan 
rejoiced  and  was  glad.  The  Jews  had  light,  and 
gladness,  and  joy,  and  honour.  And  in  every 
province,  and  in  every  city,  whithersoever  the 
king's  commandment  and  his  decree  came,  the 
Jews  had  joy  and  gladness,  a  feast  and  a  good 
day.  And  many  of  the  people  of  the  land  became 
Jews;  for  the  fear  of  the  Jews  fell  upon  them. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

COMINO  TO  LIFE  OF  DRY  BONES 

(Ezekiel  xxxvii.  1-10) 

The  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon  me,  and  carried 
me  out  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Loed,  and  set  me  down 
in  the  midst  of  the  valley  which  tvas  full  of  bones, 
and  caused  me  to  pass  by  them  round  about :  and, 
behold,  there  ivere  very  many  in  the  open  valley ; 
and,  lo,  they  tvere  very  dry. 

And  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  can  these 
bones  live?  And  I  answered,  Lord  God,  thou 
knowest. 

Again  he  said  unto  me.  Prophesy  upon  these 
bones,  and  say  unto  them,  0  ye  dry  bones,  hear 
the  word  of  the  Lord.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God 
unto  these  bones;  Behold,  I  will  cause  breath  to 
enter  into  you,  and  ye  shall  live :  and  I  will  lay 
sinews  upon  you,  and  will  bring  up  flesh  upon  you, 
and  cover  you  with  skin,  and  put  breath  in  you, 
and  ye  shall  live ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
Lord. 

So  I  prophesied  as  I  was  commanded :  and  as  I 
prophesied,  there  was  a  noise,  and  behold  a  shak- 
ing, and  the  bones  came  together,  bone  to  his  bone. 
And  when  I  beheld,  lo,  the  sinews  and  the  flesh 
came  up  upon  them,  and  the  skin  covered  them 
above :  but  there  was  no  breath  in  them. 

Then  said  he  unto  me.  Prophesy  unto  the  wind, 
prophesy,  son  of  man,  and  say  to  the  wind,  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Come  from  the  four  winds,  0 

292 


Fig.  24. — TIte  Vision  of  Ezekiel. 
Rajihael.    Pitti  Palace,  Florence. 


BIBLE  STORIES 

breath,  and  breathe  upon  these  slain,  that  they 
may  live.  So  I  prophesied  as  he  commanded  me, 
and  the  breath  came  into  them,  and  they  lived, 
and  stood  up  upon  their  feet,  an  exceeding  great 
army. 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S  DREAM 

(Daniel  ii.  1-35) 

And  in  the  second  year  of  the  reign  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, Nebuchadnezzar  dreamed  dreams,  where- 
with his  spirit  was  troubled,  and  his  sleep  brake 
from  him.  Then  the  king  commanded  to  call  the 
magicians,  and  the  astrologers,  and  the  sorcerers, 
and  the  Chaldeans,  for  to  shew  the  king  his 
dreams.  So  they  came  and  stood  before  the  king. 
And  the  king  said  unto  them,  I  have  dreamed  a 
dream,  and  my  spirit  was  troubled  to  know  the 
dream. 

Then  spake  the  Chaldeans  to  the  king  in  Syriak, 
0  king,  live  for  ever :  tell  thy  servants  the  dream, 
and  we  will  shew  the  interpretation. 

The  king  answered  and  said  to  the  Chaldeans, 
The  thing  is  gone  from  me :  if  ye  will  not  make 
known  unto  me  the  dream,  with  the  interpretation 
thereof,  ye  shall  be  cut  in  pieces,  and  your  houses 
shall  be  made  a  dunghill.  But  if  ye  shew  the 
dream,  and  the  interpretation  thereof,  ye  shall 
receive  of  me  gifts  and  rewards  and  great  honour : 
therefore  shew  me  the  dream,  and  the  interpre- 
tation thereof. 

295 


BIBLE  STORIES 

They  answered  again  and  said,  Let  the  king  tell 
his  servants  the  dream,  and  we  will  shew  the  inter- 
pretation of  it. 

The  king  answered  and  said,  I  know  of  certainty 
that  ye  would  gain  the  time,  because  ye  see  the 
thing  is  gone  from  me.  But  if  ye  will  not  make 
known  unto  me  the  dream,  there  is  but  one  decree 
for  you :  for  ye  have  prepared  lying  and  corrupt 
words  to  speak  before  me,  till  the  time  be  changed : 
therefore  tell  me  the  dream,  and  I  shall  know  that 
ye  can  shew  me  the  interpretation  thereof. 

The  Chaldeans  answered  before  the  king,  and 
said.  There  is  not  a  man  upon  the  earth  that  can 
shew  the  king's  matter :  therefore  there  is  no  king, 
lord,  nor  ruler,  that  asked  such  things  at  any 
magician,  or  astrologer,  or  Chaldean.  And  it  is  a 
rare  thing  that  the  king  requireth,  and  there  is 
none  other  that  can  shew  it  before  the  king,  except 
the  gods,  whose  dwelling  is  not  with  flesh. 

For  this  cause  the  king  was  angry  and  very 
furious,  and  commanded  to  destroy  all  the  wise 
men  of  Babylon.  And  the  decree  went  forth  that 
the  wise  men  should  be  slain;  and  they  sought 
Daniel  and  his  fellows  to  be  slain. 

Then  Daniel  answered  with  counsel  and  wisdom 
to  Arioch  the  captain  of  the  king's  guard,  which 
was  gone  forth  to  slay  the  wise  onen  of  Babylon: 
he  answered  and  said  to  Arioch  the  king's  cap- 
tain, Why  is  the  decree  so  hasty  from  the  king? 
Then  Arioch  made  the  thing  known  to  Daniel. 
Then  Daniel  went  in,  and  desired  of  the  king  that 

296 


BIBLE  STORIES 

he  would  give  him  time,  and  that  he  would  shew 
the  king  the  interpretation. 

Then  Daniel  went  to  his  house,  and  made  the 
thing  known  to  Hananiah,  Mishael,  and  Azariah, 
his  companions  :  that  they  would  desire  mercies  of 
the  God  of  heaven  concerning  this  secret;  that 
Daniel  and  his  fellows  should  not  perish  with  the 
rest  of  the  wise  men  of  Babylon. 

Then  was  the  secret  revealed  unto  Daniel  in  a 
night  vision.  Then  Daniel  blessed  the  God  of 
heaven.    Daniel  answered  and  said, 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  God 
For  ever  and  ever: 
For  wisdom  and  might  are  his : 
And  he  changeth  the  times  and  the  seasons : 
He  removeth  kings,  and  setteth  up  kings: 
He  giveth  wisdom  unto  the  wise. 
And  knowledge  to  them  that  know  understand- 
ing: 
He  revealeth  the  deep  and  secret  things : 
He  knoweth  what  is  in  the  darkness, 
And  the  light  dwelleth  with  him. 
I  thank  thee,  and  praise  thee, 
O  thou  God  of  my  fathers, 
Who  hast  given  me  wisdom  and  might, 
And  hast  made  known  unto  me  now 
What  we  desired  of  thee : 
For  thou  hast  now  made  known  unto  us 
The  king's  matter. 


297 


BIBLE  STORIES 

Therefore  Daniel  went  in  unto  Arioch,  whom 
the  king  had  ordained  to  destroy  tlie  wise  men  of 
Babylon:  he  went  and  said  thus  unto  him;  De- 
stroy not  the  wise  men  of  Babylon:  bring  me  in 
before  the  king,  and  I  will  shew  unto  the  king  the 
interpretation. 

Then  Arioch  brought  in  Daniel  before  the  king 
in  haste,  and  said  thus  unto  him,  I  have  found  a 
man  of  the  captives  of  Judah,  that  will  make 
known  unto  the  king  the  interpretation. 

The  king  answered  and  said  to  Daniel,  whose 
name  was  Belteshazzar,  Art  thou  able  to  make 
known  unto  me  the  dream  which  I  have  seen,  and 
the  interpretation  thereof  f 

Daniel  answered  in  the  presence  of  the  king, 
and  said,  The  secret  which  the  king  hath  demanded 
cannot  the  wise  men,  the  astrologers,  the  magi- 
cians, the  soothsayers,  shew  unto  the  king;  but 
there  is  a  God  in  heaven  that  revealeth  secrets,  and 
maketh  known  to  the  king  Nebuchadnezzar  what 
shall  be  in  the  latter  days. 

Thy  dream,  and  the  visions  of  thy  head  upon 
thy  bed,  are  these;  As  for  thee,  0  king,  thy 
thoughts  came  into  thy  mind  upon  thy  bed,  what 
should  come  to  pass  hereafter :  and  he  that  reveal- 
eth secrets  maketh  known  to  thee  what  shall  come 
to  pass.  But  as  for  me,  this  secret  is  not  revealed 
to  me  for  any  wisdom  that  I  have  more  than  any 
living,  but  for  their  sakes  that  shall  make  known 
the  interpretation  to  the  king,  and  that  thou  might- 
est  know- the  thoughts  of  thy  heart. 

298 


BIBLE  STORIES 

A  Great  Image 

Thou,  0  king,  sawest,  and  behold  a  great  image. 
This  great  image,  whose  brightness  ivas  excellent, 
stood  before  thee ;  and  the  form  thereof  ivas  terri- 
ble. This  image 's  head  was  of  fine  gold,  his  breast 
and  his  arms  of  silver,  his  belly  and  his  thighs  of 
brass,  his  legs  of  iron,  his  feet  part  of  iron  and 
part  of  clay.  Thou  sawest  till  that  a  stone  was 
cut  out  without  hands,  which  smote  the  image 
upon  his  feet  that  ivere  of  iron  and  clay,  and 
brake  them  to  pieces.  Then  was  the  iron,  the  clay, 
the  brass,  the  silver,  and  the  gold,  broken  to  pieces 
together,  and  became  like  the  chaff  of  the  summer 
threshing-floors ;  and  the  wind  carried  them  away, 
that  no  place  was  found  for  them:  and  the  stone 
that  smote  the  image  became^a  great  mountain, 
and  filled  the  whole  earth.  This  is  the  dream ;  and 
we  will  tell  the  interpretation  thereof  before  the 
king. 

Thou,  0  king,  art  a  king  of  kings :  for  the  God 
of  heaven  hath  given  thee  a  kingdom,  power,  and 
strength,  and  glory.  And  wheresoever  the  chil- 
dren of  men  dwell,  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  the 
fowls  of  the  heaven  hath  he  given  into  thine  hand, 
and  hath  made  thee  ruler  over  them  all. 

Thou  art  this  head  of  gold.  And  after  thee  shall 
arise  another  kingdom  inferior  to  thee,  and 
another  third  kingdom  of  brass,  which  shall 
bear  rule  over  all  the  earth.  And  the  fourth 
kingdom    shall    be    strong    as    iron:    forasmuch 

299 


BIBLE  STORIES 

as  iron  breaketh  in  pieces  and  subdueth  all 
things:  and  as  iron  that  breaketh  all  these, 
shall  it  break  in  pieces  and  bruise.  And 
whereas  thou  sawest  the  feet  and  toes,  part  of  pot- 
ters '  clay,  and  part  of  iron,  the  kingdom  shall  be 
divided ;  but  there  shall  be  in  it  of  the  strength  of 
the  iron,  forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  the  iron 
mixed  with  miry  clay.  And  as  the  toes  of  the  feet 
tvere  part  of  iron,  and  part  of  clay,  so  the  kingdom 
shall  be  partly  strong,  and  partly  broken.  And 
whereas  thou  sawest  iron  mixed  with  miry  clay, 
they  shall  mingle  themselves  with  the  seed  of  men : 
but  they  shall  not  cleave  one  to  another,  even  as 
iron  is  not  mixed  with  clay. 

And  in  the  days  of  these  kings  shall  the  God 
of  heaven  set  up  a  kingdom,  which  shall  never  be 
destroyed:  and  the  kingdom  shall  not  be  left  to 
other  people,  hut  it  shall  break  in  pieces  and  con- 
sume all  these  kingdoms,  and  it  shall  stand  for 
ever.  Forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  that  the  stone 
was  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  and 
that  it  brake  in  pieces  the  iron,  the  brass,  the  clay, 
the  silver,  and  the  gold ;  the  great  God  hath  made 
known  to  the  king  what  shall  come  to  pass  here- 
after: and  the  dream  is  certain,  and  the  inter- 
pretation thereof  sure. 

Then  the  king  Nebuchadnezzar  fell  upon  his 
face,  and  worshipped  Daniel,  and  commanded  that 
they  should  offer  an  oblation  and  sweet  odours 
unto  him.  The  king  answered  unto  Daniel,  and 
said,  Of  a  truth  it  is,  that  your  God  is  a  God  of 

300 


BIBLE  STORIES 

gods,  and  a  Lord  of  kings,  and  a  revealer  of 
secrets,  seeing  thou  couldest  reveal  this  secret. 

Then  the  king  made  Daniel  a  great  man,  and 
gave  him  many  great  gifts,  and  made  him  ruler 
over  the  whole  province  of  Babylon,  and  chief  of 
the  governors  over  all  the  wise  men  of  Babylon. 
Then  Daniel  requested  of  the  king,  and  he  set 
Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  over  the 
affairs  of  the  province  of  Babylon :  but  Daniel  sat 
in  the  gate  of  the  king. 

THE  FIERY  FURNACE 

(Daniel  iii.  1-30) 

Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  made  an  image  of 
gold,  whose  height  was  threescore  cubits,  and  the 
breadth  thereof  six  cubits  :  he  set  it  up  in  the  plain 
of  Dura,  in  the  province  of  Babylon.  Then 
Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  sent  to  gather  together 
the  princes,  the  governors,  and  the  captains,  the 
judges,  tile  treasurers,  the  counsellors,  the  sheriffs, 
and  all  the  rulers  of  the  provinces,  to  come  to  the 
dedication  of  the  image  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
the  king  had  set  up.  Then  the  princes,  the  govern- 
ors, and  captains,  the  judges,  the  treasurers,  the 
counsellors,  the  sheriffs,  and  all  the  rulers  of  the 
provinces,  were  gathered  together  unto  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  image  that  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king 
had  set  up ;  and  they  stood  before  the  image  that 
Nebuchadnezzar  had  set  up. 

Then  an  herald  cried  aloud,  To  you  it  is  coqj- 
301 


BIBLE  STORIES 

manded,  0  people,  nations,  and  languages,  that 
at  what  time,  ye  hear  the  sound  of  the  cornet,  flute, 
harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  dulcimer,  and  all  kinds 
of  piusick,  ye  fall  down  and  worship  the  golden 
image  that  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  hath  set  up : 
and  whoso  falleth  not  down  and  worshippeth  shall 
the  same  hour  be  cast  into  the  midst  of  a  burning 
fiery  furnace.  Therefore  at  that  time,  when  all 
the  people  heard  the  sound  of  the  cornet,  flute, 
harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  and  all  kinds  of  musick, 
all  the  people,  the  nations,  and  the  languages,  fell 
down  and  worshipped  the  golden  image  that  Nebu- 
chadnezzar the  king  had  set  up. 

Wherefore  at  that  time  certain  Chaldeans  came 
near,  and  accused  the  Jews.  They  spake  and  said 
to  the  king  Nebuchadnezzar,  0  king,  live  for  ever. 
Thou,  0  king,  hast  made  a  decree,  that  every  man 
that  shall  hear  the  sound  of  the  cornet,  flute,  harp, 
sackbut,  psaltery,  and  dulcimer,  and  all  kinds  of 
musick,  shall  fall  down  and  worship  the  golden 
image :  and  whoso  falleth  not  down  and  worship- 
peth, that  he  should  be  cast  into  the  midst  of  a 
burning  fiery  furnace.  There  are  certain  Jews 
whom  thou  hast  set  over  the  affairs  of  the  province 
of  Babylon,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego; 
these  men,  0  king,  have  not  regarded  thee :  they 
serve  not  thy  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image 
which  thou  hast  set  up. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  in  his  rage  and  fury  com- 
manded to  bring  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 
nego.     Then  they  brought  these  men  before  the 

302 


BIBLE  STORIES 

king.  Nebuchadnezzar  spake  and  said  unto  them, 
75  it  true,  0  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego, 
do  not  ye  serve  my  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden 
image  which  I  have  set  up?  Now  if  ye  be  ready 
that  at  what  time  ye  hear  the  sound  of  the  cornet, 
flute,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  and  dulcimer,  and 
al  kinds  of  musick,  ye  fall  down  and  worship  the 
image  which  I  have  made;  ivell:  but  if  ye  worship 
not,  ye  shall  be  cast  the  same  hour  into  the  midst 
of  a  burning  fiery  furnace;  and  who  is  that  God 
that  shall  deliver  you  out  of  my  hands  ? 

Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  answered 
and  said  to  the  king,  0  Nebuchadnezzar,  we  are 
not  careful  to  answer  thee  in  this  matter.  If  it  be 
so,  our  God  whom  we  serve  is  able  to  deliver  us 
from  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  and  he  will  deliver 
us  out  of  thine  hand,  0  king.  But  if  not,  be  it 
known  unto  thee,  0  king,  that  we  will  not  serve 
thy  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image  which  thou 
hast  set  up. 

Then  was  Nebuchadnezzar  full  of  fury,  and  the 
form  of  his  visage  was  changed  against  Shadrach, 
Meshach,  and  Abed-nego :  therefore  he  spake,  and 
commanded  that  they  should  heat  the  furnace  one 
seven  times  more  than  it  was  wont  to  be  heated. 
And  he  commanded  the  most  mighty  men  that 
were  in  his  army  to  bind  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abed-nego,  and  to  cast  tJiem  into  the  burning  fiery 
furnace. 

Then  these  men  were  bound  in  their  coats,  their 
hosen,  and  their  hats,  and  their  other  garments, 

303 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  were  cast  into  the  midst  of  the  burning  fiery 
furnace.  Therefore  because  the  king's  command- 
ment was  urgent,  and  the  furnace  exceeding  hot, 
the  flame  of  the  fire  slew  those  men  that  took  up 
Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego.  And  these 
three  men,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego, 
fell  down  bound  into  the  midst  of  the  burning  fiery 
furnace. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  was  astonied, 
and  rose  up  in  haste,  and  spake,  and  said  unto  his 
counsellors.  Did  not  we  cast  three  men  bound  into 
the  midst  of  the  fire? 

They  answered  and  said  unto  the  king.  True, 
0  king. 

He  answered  and  said,  Lo,  I  see  four  men 
loose,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and  they 
have  no  hurt;  and  the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like 
the  Son  of  God. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  came  near  to  the  mouth 
of  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  and  spake,  and  said, 
Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  ye  servants 
of  the  most  high  God,  come  forth,  and  come 
hither. 

Then  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  came 
forth  of  the  midst  of  the  fire.  And  the  princes, 
governors,  and  captains,  and  the  king's  counsel- 
lors, being  gathered  together,  saw  these  men,  upon 
whose  bodies  the  fire  had  no  power,  nor  was  an 
hair  of  their  head  singed,  neither  were  their  coats 
changed,  nor  the  smell  of  fire  had  passed  on  them. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  spake,  and  said.  Blessed 
304 


BIBLE  STORIES 

be  tlie  God  of  Sliadracli.  Mesliacli,  and  Abed-nego, 
who  hath  sent  his  angel,  and  delivered  his  serv- 
ants that  trusted  in  him,  and  have  changed  the 
king's  word,  and  yielded  their  bodies,  that  they 
might  not  serve  nor  worship  any  god,  except  their 
own  God.  Therefore  I  make  a  decree.  That  every 
people,  nation,  and  language,  which  speak  any 
thing  amiss  against  the  God  of  Shadrach,  Me- 
shach,  and  Abed-nego,  shall  be  cut  in  pieces,  and 
their  houses  shall  be  made  a  dunghill:  because 
there  is  no  other  God  that  can  deliver  after  this 
sort.  Then  the  king  promoted  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
and  Abed-nego,  in  the  province  of  Babylon. 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR  DID  EAT  GRASS 
AS  OXEN 

(Daniel  iv.  1-33) 

Nebuchadnezzar  the  king,  unto  all  people,  na- 
tions, and  languages,  that  dwell  in  all  the  earth; 
Peace  be  multiplied  unto  you.  I  thought  it  good 
to  shew  the  signs  and  wonders  that  the  high  God 
hath  wrought  toward  me.  How  great  are  his 
signs!  and  how  mighty  are  his  wonders !  his  king- 
dom is  an  everlasting  kingdom,  and  his  dominion 
is  from  generation  to  generation. 

I  Nebuchadnezzar  was  at  rest  in  mine  house, 
and  flourishing  in  my  palace :  I  saw  a  dream  which 
made  me  afraid,  and  the  thoughts  upon  my  bed 
and  the  visions  of  my  head  troubled  me.  There- 
fore made  I  a  decree  to  bring  in  all  the  wise  men 

305 


BIBLE  STORIES 

of  Babylon  before  me,  that  they  might  make 
known  unto  me  the  interpretation  of  the  dream. 
Then  came  in  the  magicians,  the  astrologers,  the 
Chaldeans,  and  the  soothsayers:  and  I  told  the 
dream  before  them ;  but  they  did  not  make  known 
unto  me  the  interpretation  thereof.  But  at  the 
last  Daniel  came  in  before  me,  whose  name  ivas 
Belteshazzar,  according  to  the  name  of  my  god, 
and  in  whom  is  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods :  and 
before  him  I  told  the  dream,  saying, 

0  Belteshazzar,  master  of  the  magicians,  be- 
cause I  know  that  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods  is  in 
thee,  and  no  secret  troubleth  thee,  tell  me  the 
visions  of  my  dream  that  I  have  seen,  and  the 
interpretation  thereof. 

Nebuchadnezzae's  Vision 

Thus  were  the  visions  of  mine  head  in  my  bed ; 
I  saw,  and  behold  a  tree  in  the  midst  of  the  earth, 
and  the  height  thereof  tvas  great.  The  tree  grew, 
and  was  strong,  and  the  height  thereof  reached 
unto  heaven,  and  the  sight  thereof  to  the  end  of 
all  the  earth :  the  leaves  thereof  ivere  fair,  and  the 
fruit  thereof  much,  and  in  it  tvas  meat  for  all :  the 
beasts  of  the  field  had  shadow  under  it,  and  the 
fowls  of  the  heaven  dwelt  in  the  boughs  thereof, 
and  all  flesh  was  fed  of  it.  I  saw  in  the  visions  of 
my  head  upon  my  bed,  and,  behold,  a  watcher  and 
a  holy  one  came  down  from  heaven;  he  cried 
aloud,  and  said  thus,  Hew  down  the  tree,  and  cut 

306 


BIBLE  STORIES 

off  his  brandies,  shake  off  his  leaves,  and  scatter 
his  fruit:  let  the  beasts  get  away  from  under  it, 
and  the  fowls  from  his  branches:  nevertheless, 
leave  the  stump  of  his  roots  in  the  earth,  even  with 
a  band  of  iron  and  brass,  in  the  tender  grass  of 
the  field ;  and  let  it  be  wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven, 
and  let  his  portion  he  with  the  beasts  in  the  grass 
of  the  earth:  let  his  heart  be  changed  from  man's, 
and  let  a  beast's  heart  be  given  unto  him;  and  let 
seven  times  pass  over  him.  This  matter  is 
by  the  decree  of  the  watchers,  and  the  demand 
by  the  word  of  the  holy  ones:  to  the  intent 
that  the  living  may  know  that  the  Most  High 
ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  giveth  it  to 
whomsoever  he  will,  and  setteth  up  over  it  the 
basest  of  men. 

This  dream  I  king  Nebuchadnezzar  have  seen. 
Now  thou,  0  Belteshazzar,  declare  the  interpreta- 
tion thereof,  forasmuch  as  all  the  wise  men  of 
my  kingdom  are  not  able  to  make  known  unto  me 
•  the  interpretation :  but  thou  art  able ;  for  the  spirit 
of  the  holy  gods  is  in  thee. 

Then  Daniel,  whose  name  ivas  Belteshazzar,  was 
astonied  for  one  hour,  and  his  thoughts  troubled 
him.    The  king  spake,  and  said,  Belteshazzar,  let 
not   the    dream,    or    the    interpretation    thereof,' 
trouble  thee. 

Belteshazzar  answered  and  said,  My  lord,  the 
dream  he  to  them  that  hate  thee,  and  the  inter- 
pretation thereof  to  thine  enemies.  The  tree  that 
thou  sawest,  which  grew,  and  was  strong,  whose 

307 


BIBLE  STORIES 

height  reached  unto  the  heaven,  and  the  sight 
thereof  to  all  the  earth;  whose  leaves  were  fair, 
and  the  fruit  thereof  much,  and  in  it  was  meat  for 
all ;  under  which  the  beasts  of  the  field  dwelt,  and 
upon  whose  branches  the  fowls  of  the  heaven  had 
their  habitation :  it  is  thou,  0  king,  that  art  grown 
and  become  strong:  for  thy  greatness  is  grown, 
and  reacheth  unto  heaven,  and  thy  dominion  to 
the  end  of  the  earth.  And  whereas  the  king  saw 
a  watcher  and  a  holy  one  coming  down  from 
heaven,  and  saying.  Hew  the  tree  down,  and  de- 
stroy it ;  yet  leave  the  stump  of  the  roots  thereof 
in  the  earth,  even  with  a  band  of  iron  and  brass, 
in  the  tender  grass  of  the  field;  and  let  it  be  wet 
with  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  let  his  portion  he  with 
the  beasts  of  the  field,  till  seven  times  pass  over 
him ;  this  is  the  interpretation,  0  king,  and  this  is 
the  decree  of  the  most  High,  which  is  come  upon 
my  lord  the  king :  that  they  shall  drive  thee  from 
men,  and  thy  dwelling  shall  be  with  the  beasts  of 
the  field,  and  they  shall  make  thee  to  eat  grass  as 
oxen,  and  they  shall  wet  thee  with  the  dew  of 
heaven,  and  seven  times  shall  pass  over  thee,  till 
thou  know  that  the  most  High  ruleth  in  the  king- 
dom of  men,  and  givetli  it  to  whomsoever  he  will. 
And  whereas  they  commanded  to  leave  the  stump 
of  the  tree  roots;  thy  kinj^dom  shall  be  sure  unto 
thee,  after  that  thou  shalt  have  known  that  the 
heavens  do  rule. 

Wherefore,  0  king,  let  my  counsel  be  acceptable 
unto  thee,  and  break  off  thy  sins  by  righteousness, 

308 


BIBLE  STORIES 

and  thine  iniquities  by  shewing  mercy  to  the  poor ; 
if  it  may  be  a  lengthening  of  thy  tranquilHty. 

The  King  Becomes  Insane 

All  this  came  upon  the  king  Nebuchadnezzar. 
At  the  end  of  twelve  months  he  walked  in  the  pal- 
ace of  the  kingdom  of  Babylon.  The  king  spake, 
and  said,  Is  not  this  great  Babylon,  that  I  have 
built  for  the  house  of  the  kingdom  by  the  might  of 
my  power,  and  for  the  honour  of  my  majesty? 

While  the  word  was  in  the  king's  mouth,  there 
fell  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  0  king,  Neb- 
uchadnezzar, to  thee  it  is  spoken ;  The  kingdom  is 
departed  from  thee.  And  they  shall  drive  thee 
from  men,  and  thy  dwelling  shall  he  with  the 
beasts  of  the  field:  they  shall  make  thee  to  eat 
grass  as  oxen,  and  seven  times  shall  pass  over 
thee,  until  thou  know  that  the  Most  High  ruleth 
in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  giveth  it  to  whomso- 
ever he  will. 

The  same  hour  was  the  thing  fulfilled  upon  Neb- 
uchadnezzar :  and  he  was  driven  from  men,  and 
did  eat  grass  as  oxen,  and  his  body  was  wet  with 
the  dew  of  heaven,  till  his  hairs  were  grown  like 
eagles'  feathers,  and  his  nails  like  birds'  claivs. 

And  at  the  end  of  the  days  I  Nebuchadnezzar 
lifted  up  mine  eyes  unto  heaven,  and  mine  under- 
standing returned  unto  nie,  and  I  blessed  the  most 
High,  and  I  praised  and  honoured  him  that  liveth 
for  ever,  whose  dominion  is  an  everlasting  domin- 
ion, and  his  kingdom  is  from  generation  to  genera- 

309 


BIBLE  STORIES 

tion:  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are 
reputed  as  nothing :  and  he  doeth  according  to  his 
will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  earth :  and  none  can  stay  his  hand,  or 
say  unto  him,  What  doest  thou?  At  the  same  time 
my  reason  returned  unto  me ;  and  for  the  glory  of 
my  kingdom,  mine  honour  and  brightness  re- 
turned to  me;  and  my  counsellors  and  my  lords 
sought  unto  me ;  and  I  was  established  in  my  king- 
dom, and  excellent  majesty  was  added  unto  me. 
Now  I  Nebuchadnezzar  praise  and  extol  and 
honour  the  King  of  heaven,  all  whose  works  are 
truth,  and  his  ways  judgment :  and  those  that  walk 
in  pride  he  is  able  to  abase. 


THE  WRITING  ON  THE  WALL 

(Daniel  V.  1-31) 

Belshazzar  the  king  made  a  great  feast  to  a 
thousand  of  his  lords,  and  drank  wine  before  the 
thousand.  Belshazzar,  while  he  tasted  the  wine, 
commanded  to  bring  the  golden  and  silver  vessels 
which  his  father  Nebuchadnezzar  had  taken  out  of 
the  temple  which  was  in  Jerusalem ;  that  the  king 
and  his  princes,  his  wives,  and  his  concubines, 
might  drink  therein.  Then  they  brought  the 
golden  vessels  that  were  taken  out  of  the  temple 
of  the  house  of  God  which  was  at  Jerusalem ;  and 
the  king  and  his  princes,  his  wives,  and  his  con- 
cubines, drank  in  them.     They  drank  wine,  and 

310 


BIBLE  STORIES 

praised  the  gods  of  gold,  and  of  silver,  of  brass, 
of  iron,  of  wood,  and  of  stone. 

In  the  same  hour  came  forth  fingers  of  a  man's 
hand,  and  wrote  over  against  the  candlestick  upon 
the  plaster  of  the  wall  of  the  king's  palace :  and 
the  king  saw  the  part  of  the  hand  that  wrote. 
Then  the  king 's  countenance  was  changed,  and  his 
thoughts  troubled  him,  so  that  the  joints  of  his 
loins  were  loosed,  and  his  knees  smote  one  against 
another.  The  king  cried  aloud  to  bring  in  the 
astrologers,  and  Chaldeans,  and  the  soothsayers. 
And  the  king  spake,  and  said  to  the  wise  7nen  of 
Babylon,  AYliosoever  shall  read  this  writing,  and 
shew  *me  the  interpretation  thereof,  shall  be 
clothed  with  scarlet,  and  have  a  chain  of  gold 
about  his  neck,  and  shall  be  the  third  ruler  in  the 
kingdom. 

Then  came  in  all  the  king's  wise  men:  but  they 
could  not  read  the  writing,  nor  make  known  to  the 
king  the  interpretation  thereof.  Then  was  king 
Belshazzar  greatly  troubled,  and  his  countenance 
was  changed  in  him,  and  his  lords  were  astonied. 

Noiv  the  queen,  by  reason  of  the  words  of  the 
king  and  his  lords,  came  into  the  banquet  house : 
and  the  queen  spake  and  said, 

0  king,  live  for  ever :  let  not  thy  thoughts  trou- 
ble thee,  nor  let  thy  countenance  be  changed: 
there  is  a  man  in  thy  kingdom,  in  whom  is  the 
spirit  of  the  holy  gods;  and  in  the  days  of  thy 
father  light  and  understanding  and  wisdom,  like 
the  wisdom  of  the  gods,  was  found  in  him ;  whom 

311 


BIBLE  STORIES 

the  king  Nebuchadnezzar  thy  father,  the  king,  / 
say,  thy  father,  made  master  of  the  magicians, 
astrologers,  Chaldeans,  and  soothsayers ;  foras- 
much as  an  excellent  spirit,  and  knowledge,  and 
understanding,  interpreting  of  dreams,  and  shew- 
ing of  hard  sentences,  and  dissolving  of  doubts, 
were  found  in  the  same  Daniel,  whom  the  king 
named  Belteshazzar :  now  let  Daniel  be  called,  and 
he  will  shew  the  interpretation. 

Then  was  Daniel  brought  in  before  the  king. 
And  the  king  spake  and  said  unto  Daniel,  Art 
thou  that  Daniel,  which  art  of  the  children  of  the 
captivity  of  Judah,  whom  the  king  my  father 
brought  out  of  Jewry  ?  I  have  even  heard  of  thee, 
that  the  spirit  of  the  gods  is  in  thee,  and  that  light 
and  understanding  and  excellent  wisdom  is  found 
in  thee.  And  now  the  wise  men,  the  astrologers, 
have  been  brought  in  before  me,  that  they  should 
read  this  writing,  and  make  known  unto  me  the 
interpretation  thereof :  but  they  could  not  shew  the 
interpretation  of  the  thing:  and  I  have  heard  of 
thee,  that  thou  canst  make  interpretations,  and 
dissolve  doubts :  now  if  thou  canst  read  the  writ- 
ing, and  make  known  to  me  the  interpretation 
thereof,  thou  shalt  be  clothed  with  scarlet,  and 
have  a  chain  of  gold  about  thy  neck,  and  shalt  be 
the  third  ruler  in  the  kingdom. 

Daniel  Reads  the  Writing 

Then  Daniel  answered  and  said  before  the  king, 
Let  thy  gifts  be  to  thyself,  and  give  thy  rewards  to 

312 


BIBLE  STORIES 

another ;  yet  I  will  read  the  writing  unto  the  king, 
and  make  known  to  him  the  interpretation. 

0  thou  king,  the  most  high  God  gave  Nebuchad- 
nezzar thy  father  a  kingdom,  and  majesty,  and 
glory,  and  honour:  and  for  the  majesty  that  he 
gave  him,  all  people,  nations,  and  languages, 
trembled  and  feared  before  him:  whom  he  would 
he  slew;  and  whom  he  would  he  kept  alive;  and 
whom  he  would  he  set  up ;  and  whom  he  would  he 
put  down.  But  when  his  heart  was  lifted  up,  and 
his  mind  hardened  in  pride,  he  was  deposed  from 
his  kingly  throne,  and  they  took  his  glory  from 
him :  and  he  was  driven  from  the  sons  of  men ;  and 
his  heart  was  made  like  the  beasts,  and  his  dwell- 
ing was  with  the  wild  asses :  they  fed  him  with 
grass  like  oxen,  and  his  body  was  wet  with  the  dew 
of  heaven;  till  he  knew  that  the  most  high  God 
ruled  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  that  he  ap- 
pointed over  it  whomsoever  he  will. 

And  thou  his  son,  0  Belshazzar,  hast  not  hum- 
bled thine  heart,  though  thou  knewest  all  this ;  but 
hast  lifted  up  thyself  against  the  Lord  of  heaven ; 
and  they  have  brought  the  vessels  of  his  house  be- 
fore thee,  and  thou,  and  thy  lords,  thy  wives  and 
thy  concubines,  have  drunk  wine  in  them ;  and  thou 
hast  praised  the  gods  of  silver,  and  gold,  of  brass, 
iron,  wood,  and  stone,  which  see  not,  nor  hear, 
nor  know :  and  the  God  in  whose  hand  thy  breath 
is,  and  whose  are  all  thy  ways,  hast  thou  not 
glorified :  then  was  the  part  of  the  hand  sent  from 
him ;  and  this  writing  was  written. 

313 


BIBLE  STORIES 

And  this  is  the  writing  that  was  written, 

MENE,  MENE,  TEKEL,  UPHARSIN. 

This  is  the  interpretation  of  the  thing :  MENE ; 
God  hath  numbered  thy  kingdom,  and  finished  it. 
TEKEL;  Thou  art  weighed  in  the  balances,  and 
art  found  wanting.  PERES ;  Thy  kingdom  is  di- 
vided, and  given  to  the  Medes  and  Persians. 

Then  commanded  Belshazzar,  and  they  clothed 
Daniel  with  scarlet,  and  p^t^  a  chain  of  gold  about 
his  neck,  and  made  a  proclamation  concerning 
him,  that  he  should  be  the  third  ruler  in  the  king- 
dom. 

In  that  night  was  Belshazzar  the  king  of  the 
Chaldeans  slain.  And  Darius  the  Median  took  the 
kingdom,  being  about  threescore  and  two  years 
old. 

DANIEL  IN  THE  LIONS'  DEN 

( Daniel  vi.  1-28) 

It  pleased  Darius  to  set  over  the  kingdom  a  hun- 
dred and  twenty  princes,  which  should  be  over  the 
whole  kingdom;  and  over  these  three  presidents; 
of  whom  Daniel  was  first :  that  the  princes  might 
give  accounts  unto  them,  and  the  king  should  have 
no  damage.  Then  this  Daniel  was  preferred  above 
the  president  and  princes,  because  an  excellent 
spirit  ivas  in  him ;  and  the  king  thought  to  set  him 
over  the  whole  realm. 

Then  the  presidents  and  princes  sought  to  find 
occasion  against  Daniel  concerning  the  kingdom; 

314 


BIBLE  STORIES 

but  they  could  find  none  occasion  nor  fault ;  foras- 
much as  he  ivas  faithful,  neither  was  there  any 
error  or  fault  found  in  him.  Then  said  these  men, 
We  shall  not  find  any  occasion  against  this  Daniel, 
except  we  find  it  against  him  concerning  the  law 
of  his  God. 

Then  these  presidents  and  princes  assembled 
together  to  the  king,  and  said  thus  unto  him.  King 
Darius,  live  for  ever.  All  the  presidents  of  the 
kingdom,  the  governors,  and  the  princes,  the 
counsellors,  and  the  captains,  have  consulted  to- 
gether to  establish  a  royal  statute,  and  to  make  a 
firm  decree,  that  whosoever  shall  ask  a  petition  of 
any  God  or  man  for  thirty  days,  save  of  thee,  0 
king,  he  shall  be  cast  into  the  den  of  lions.  Now, 
0  king,  establish  the  decree,  and  sigii  the  writing, 
that  it  be  not  changed,  according  to  the  law  of  the 
Medes  and  Persians,  which  altereth  not. 

Wherefore  king  Darius  signed  the  writing  and 
the  decree. 

Now  when  Daniel  knew  that  the  writing  was 
signed,  he  went  into  his  house ;  and,  his  windows 
being  open  in  his  chamber  toward  Jerusalem,  he 
kneeled  upon  his  knees  three  times  a  day,  and 
prayed,  and  gave  thanks  before  his  God,  as  he  did 
aforetime. 

Then  these  men  assembled,  and  found  Daniel 
praying  and  making  supplication  before  his  God. 
Then  they  came  near,  and  spake  before  the  king 
concerning  the  king's  decree ;  Hast  thou  not  signed 
a  decree,  that  every  man  that  shall  ask  a  petition 

315 


BIBLE  STORIES 

of  any  God  or  man  within  thirty  days,  save  of 
thee,  0  king,  shall  be  cast  into  the  den  of  lions"? 

The  king  answered  and  said,  The  thing  is  true, 
according  to  the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians, 
which  altereth  not. 

Then  answered  they  and  said  before  the  king, 
That  Daniel,  which  is  of  the  children  of  the  cap- 
tivity of  Judah,  regardeth  not  thee,  0  king,  nor 
the  decree  that  thou  hast  signed,  but  maketh  his 
petition  three  times  a  day. 

Then  the  king,  when  he  heard  these  words,  was 
sore  displeased  with  himself,  and  set  his  heart  on 
Daniel  to  deliver  him:  and  he  laboured  till  the 
going  down  of  the  sun  to  deliver  him. 

Then  these  men  assembled  unto  the  king,  and 
said  unto  the  king,  Know,  0  king,  that  the  law  of 
the  Medes  and  Persians  is,  That  no  decree  nor 
statute  which  the  king  establisheth  may  be 
changed. 

Then  the  king  commanded,  and  they  brought 
Daniel,  and  cast  him  into  the  den  of  lions.  Now 
the  king  spake  and  said  unto  Daniel,  Thy  God 
whom  thou  servest  continually,  he  will  deliver 
thee. 

And  a  stone  was  brought,  and  laid  upon  the 
mouth  of  the  den ;  and  the  king  sealed  it  with  his 
own  signet,  and  with  the  signet  of  his  lords ;  that 
the  purpose  might  not  be  changed  concerning 
Daniel. 

Then  the  king  went  to  his  palace,  and  passed 
the  night  fasting:  neither  were  instruments   of 

316 


BIBLE  STORIES 

music  brought  before  him:  and  his  sleep  went 
from  him. 

Then  the  king  arose  very  early  in  the  morning, 
and  went  in  haste  unto  the  den  of  lions.  And 
when  he  came  to  the  den,  he  cried  with  a  lament- 
able voice  unto  Daniel:  and  the  king  spake  and 
said  to  Daniel,  0  Daniel,  servant  of  the  living 
God,  is  thy  God,  whom  thou  servest  continually, 
able  to  deliver  thee  from  the  lions? 

Then  said  Daniel  unto  the  king,  0  king,  live  for 
ever.  My  God  hath  sent  his  angel,  and  hath  shut 
the  lions '  mouths,  that  they  have  not  hurt  me :  for- 
asmuch as  before  him  innocency  was  found  in  me ; 
and  also  before  thee,  0  king,  have  I  done  no  hurt. 

Then  was  the  king  exceeding  glad  for  him,  and 
commanded  that  they  should  take  Daniel  up  out 
of  the  den.  So  Daniel  Avas  taken  up  out  of  the 
den,  and  no  manner  of  hurt  was  found  upon  him, 
because  he  believed  in  his  God. 

And  the  king  commanded,  and  they  brought 
those  men  which  had  accused  Daniel,  and  they  cast 
them  into  the  den  of  lions,  them,  their  children, 
and  their  wives ;  and  the  lions  had  the  mastery  of 
them,  and  brake  all  their  bones  in  pieces  or  ever 
they  came  at  the  bottom  of  the  den. 

Then  king  Darius  wrote  unto  all  people,  na- 
tions, and  languages,  that  dwell  in  all  the  earth; 
Peace  be  multiplied  unto  you.  I  make  a  decree. 
That  in  every  dominion  of  my  kingdom  men  trem- 
ble and  fear  before  the  God  of  Daniel:  for  he  is 
the  living  God,  and  stedfast  for  ever,  and  his 

317 


BIBLE  STORIES 

kingdom  that  which  shall  not  be  destroyed,  and  his 
dominion  shall  he  even  unto  the  end.  He  deliver- 
eth  and  rescueth,  and  he  worketh  signs  and  won- 
ders in  heaven  and  in  earth,  who  hath  delivered 
Daniel  from  the  power  of  the  lions. 

So    this    Daniel    prospereth    in    the    reign    of 
Darius,  and  in  the  reign  of  Cyrus  the  Persian. 


JONAH 

(Jonah  i.-iv.) 

Now  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  Jonah  the 
son  of  Amittai,  saying,  Arise,  go  to  Nineveh,  that 
great  city,  and  cry  against  it ;  for  their  wickedness 
is  come  up  before  me: 

But  Jonah  rose  up  to  flee  unto  Tarshish  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  went  down  to  Joppa ; 
and  he  found  a  ship  going  to  Tarshish :  so  he  paid 
the  fare  thereof,  and  went  down  into  it,  to  go  with 
them  unto  Tarshish  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord. 

But  the  Lord  sent  out  a  great  wind  into  the  sea, 
and  there  was  a  mighty  tempest  in  the  sea,  so  that 
the  ship  was  like  to  be  broken.  Then  the  mariners 
were  afraid,  and  cried  every  man  unto  his  god, 
and  cast  forth  the  wares  that  uwre  in  the  ship  into 
the  sea,  to  lighten  it  of  them.  But  Jonah  was  gone 
down  into  the  sides  of  the  ship;  and  he  lay,  and 
was  fast  asleep. 

So  the  shipmaster  came  to  him,  and  said  unto 
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BIBLE  STORIES 

him,  What  meanest  thou,  0  sleeper?  arise,  call 
upon  thy  God,  if  so  be  that  God  will  think  upon  us, 
that  we  perish  not. 

And  they  said  every  one  to  his  fellow,  Come, 
and  let  us  cast  lots,  that  we  may  know  for  whose 
cause  this  evil  is  upon  us.  So  they  cast  lots,  and 
the  lot  fell  upon  Jonah. 

Then  said  they  unto  him.  Tell  us,  we  pray  thee, 
for  whose  cause  this  evil  is  upon  us ;  What  is  thine 
occupation?  and  whence  comest  thou?  what  is  thy 
country!  and  of  what  people  art  thou? 

And  he  said  unto  them,  I  am  a  Hebrew;  and  I 
fear  the  Lord,  the  God  of  heaven,  which  hath  made 
the  sea  and  the  dry  land. 

Then  were  the  men  exceedingly  afraid,  and  said 
unto  him.  Why  hast  thou  done  this!  For  the  men 
knew  that  he  fled  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
because  he  had  told  them. 

Then  said  they  unto  him.  What  shall  we  do  unto 
thee,  that  the  sea  may  be  calm  unto  us!  for  the 
sea  wrought,  and  was  tempestuous. 

And  he  said  unto  them.  Take  me  up,  and  cast  me 
forth  into  the  sea;  so  shall  the  sea  be  calm  unto 
you :  for  I  know  that  for  my  sake  this  great  tem- 
pest is  upon  you. 

Nevertheless  the  men  rowed  hard  to  bring  it  to 
the  land ;  but  they  could  not :  for  the  sea  wrought, 
and  was  tempestuous  against  them. 

Wherefore  they  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  said, 
We  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  we  beseech  thee,  let  us 
not  perish  for  this  man's  life,  and  lay  not  upon 

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BIBLE  STORIES 

us  innocent  blood :  for  thou,  0  Lord,  hast  done  as 
it  pleased  thee. 

So  they  took  up  Jonah,  and  cast  him  forth  into 
the  sea :  and  the  sea  ceased  from  her  raging.  Then 
the  men  feared  the  Lord  exceedingly,  and  offered 
a  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord,  and  made  vows. 

Jonah  in  the  Belly  of  the  Fish 

Now  the  Lord  had  prepared  a  great  fish  to 
swallow  up  Jonah.  And  Jonah  was  in  the  belly  of 
the  fish  three  days  and  three  nights. 

Then  Jonah  prayed  unto  the  Lord  his  God  out 
of  the  fish's  belly,  and  said, 

I  cried  by  reason  of  mine  affliction 

Unto  the  Lord,  and  he  heard  me ; 

Out  of  the  belly  of  hell  cried  I, 

And  thou  heardest  my  voice. 

For  thou  hadst  cast  me  into  the  deep. 

In  the  midst  of  the  seas ; 

And  the  floods  compassed  me  about ; 

All  thy  billows  and  thy  waves 

Passed  over  me. 

Then  I  said,  I  am  cast  out  of  thy  sight ; 

Yet  I  will  look  again 

Toward  thy  holy  temple. 

The  waters  compassed  me  about, 

Even  to  the  soul : 

The  depth  closed  me  round  about, 

The  weeds  were  wrapped  about  my  head. 

I  went  down  to  the  bottoms  of  the  mountains ; 
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BIBLE  STORIES 

The  earth  with  her  bars  was  about  me  for 
ever : 

Yet  hast  thou  brought  up  my  life 

From  corruption,  0  Lord  my  God. 

When  my  soul  fainted  within  me 

I  remembered  the  Lord: 

And  my  prayer  came  unto  thee, 

Into  thine  holy  temple. 

They  that  observe  lying  vanities 

Forsake  their  own  mercy. 

But  I  will  sacrifice  unto  thee 

With  the  voice  of  thanksgiving; 

I  will  pay  that  that  I  have  vowed. 

Salvation  is  of  the  Lord. 

And  the  Lord  spake  unto  the  fish,  and  it  vomited 
out  Jonah  upon  the  dry  land. 

And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  Jonah  the 
second  time,  saying.  Arise,  go  unto  Nineveh,  that 
great  city,  and  preach  unto  it  the  preaching  that  I 
bid  thee. 

Jonah  in  Nineveh 

So  Jonah  arose,  and  went  unto  Nineveh,  accord- 
ing to  the  word  of  the  Lord. 

Now  Nineveh  was  an  exceeding  great  city  of 
three  days'  journey.  And  Jonah  began  to  enter 
into  the  city  a  day's  journey,  and  he  cried,  and 
said.  Yet  forty  days,  and  Nineveh  shall  be  over- 
thrown. 

So  the  people  of  Nineveh  believed  God,  and  pro- 
claimed a  fast,  and  put  on  sackcloth,  from  the 

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BIBLE  STORIES 

greatest  of  them  even  to  the  least  of  them.  For 
word  came  unto  the  king  of  Nineveh,  and  he  arose 
from  his  throne,  and  he  laid  his  robe  from  him, 
and  covered  him  with  sackcloth,  and  sat  in  ashes. 
And  he  caused  it  to  be  proclaimed  and  published 
through  Nineveh  by  the  decree  of  the  king  and  his 
nobles,  saying,  Let  neither  man  nor  beast,  herd 
nor  flock,  taste  any  thing:  let  them  not  feed,  nor 
drink  water :  but  let  man  and  beast  be  covered 
with  sackcloth,  and  cry  mightily  unto  God :  yea,  let 
them  turn  every  one  from  his  evil  way,  and  from 
the  violence  that  is  in  their  hands.  Who  can  tell 
if  God  will  turn  and  repent,  and  turn  away  from 
his  fierce  anger,  that  we  perish  not? 

And  God  saw  their  works,  that  they  turned 
from  their  evil  way ;  and  God  repented  of  the  evil, 
that  he  had  said  that  he  would  do  unto  them ;  and 
he  did  it  not. 

But  it  displeased  Jonah  exceedingly,  and  he  was 
very  angry.  And  he  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  and 
said,  I  pray  thee,  0  Lord,  tvas  not  this  my  saying, 
when  I  was  yet  in  my  country?  Therefore  I  fled 
before  unto  Tarshish :  for  I  knew  that  thou  art  a 
gracious  God,  and  merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of 
great  kindness,  and  repentest  thee  of  the  evil. 
Therefore  now,  0  Lord,  take,  I  beseech  thee,  my 
life  from  me ;  for  it  is  better  for  me  to  die  than  to 
live. 

Then  said  the  Lord,  Doest  thou  well  to  be  angry? 

So  Jonah  went  out  of  the  city,  and  sat  on  the 
east  side  of  the  city,  and  there  made  him  a  booth, 

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and  sat  under  it  in  the  shadow,  till  he  might  see 
what  would  become  of  the  city.  And  the  Lord 
God  prepared  a  gourd,  and  made  it  to  come  up 
over  Jonah,  that  it  might  be  a  shadow  over  his 
head,  to  deliver  him  from  his  grief.  So  Jonah 
was  exceeding  glad  of  the  gourd. 

But  God  prepared  a  worm  when  the  morning 
rose  the  next  day,  and  it  smote  the  gourd  that  it 
withered.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  sun  did 
arise,  that  God  prepared  a  vehement  east  wind; 
and  the  sun  beat  upon  the  head  of  Jonah,  that  he 
fainted,  and  wished  in  himself  to  die,  and  said, 
It  is  better  for  me  to  die  than  to  live. 

And  God  said  to  Jonah,  Doest  thou  well  to  be 
angry  for  the  gourd? 

And  he  said,  I  do  well  to  be  angry,  even  unto 
death. 

Then  said  the  Lord,  Thou  hast  had  pity  on  the 
gourd,  for  the  which  thou  hast  not  laboured, 
neither  madest  it  grow ;  which  came  up  in  a  night, 
and  perished  in  a  night :  and  should  not  I  spare 
Nineveh,  that  great  city,  wherein  are  more  than 
sixscore  thousand  persons  that  cannot  discern  be- 
tween their  right  hand  and  their  left  hand;  and 
also  much  cattle? 


INDEX 


Aaron,  92-127,  131 
Abed-nego  (Azariah),  301- 

305 
Abel,  8-12 
Abigail,  201-205 
Abner,  195 
Abraham,  19-22,  26-40,  90, 

91,  125,  241 
Absalom,  215-222 
Adam,  4-8 
Ahab,  235,  238-243 
Ahasuerus,  276-291 
Ahimaaz,  221 
Ahithophel,  217,  218 
Arioch,  298 
Asher,  55 

Baal,  238-242 
Balaam,  127-131 
Balak,  127-131 
Barak,  148-150 
Bath-sheba,  209-212 
Belshazzar,  310-314 
Belteshazzar,  298 
Ben-hadad,  267,  268 
Benjamin,  55,  70,  73-82 
Boaz,  172-179 

Cain,  8-12 
Cushi,  221 
Cyrus,  318 


Dan,  55 
Daniel,  296-318 
Darius,  314-318 
David,  179,  183-205,  270 
Deborah,  148-150 
Delilah,  164-166 

Ebed-melech,  274-276 
Eglon,  146,  147 
Eli,  179-183 
Elijah,  245-248 
Elisha,  245-268 
Ehud,  146,  147 
Ephron,  32-34 
Esau,  41-46 
Esther,  276-291 
Eve,  4-8 
Ezekiel,  292-294 

Gad,  55 

Gehazi,  253-256,  259,  260 
Gideon,  151-154 
Goliath,  183-189 

Hagar,  26-29 
Ham,  14 
Haman,  281-291 
Hazael,  267,  268 
Heber,  150 
Hezekiah,  269,  270 
Hiram,  231 
Hur,  117 


325 


INDEX 


Isaac,  26-31,  90,  91,  125-241 
Isaiah,  269,  270 
Ishbi-beiiob  (Goliath's 

brother),  224 
Ishmael,  26-29 
Israel,  54,  56,  57,  70,  73, 

82,  83,  125,  131,  132 
Issachar,  55 

Jacob,  41-55,  57,  61,  70,  72, 

83-85,  90,  91 
Jael,  148-150 
Japheth,  14 
Jehoshaphat,  249-252 
Jehu,  268,  269 
Jephthah,  155,  156 
Jeroboam,  231-235 
Jeremiah,  273-276 
Jesse,  179,  185 
Jezebel,  239,  243,  268,  269 
Joab,  209-211,  215-222 
Jonah,  318-323 
Jonathan,  195-197 
Joseph,  55,  56-85 
Joshua,  117,  132-146 
Judah,  55,  73-75,  78,  79 

Laban,  37-40,  50-54 
Leah,  178 
Levi,  55,  85,  126 
Lot,  23-25 

Mahlon,  170,  178 
Manoah,  157-159 
Mephibosheth,  223 
Meshach     (Michael),    301- 

305 
Michal,  193,  194 


Miriam,  118,  119 
Moab,  127-131 
Mordecai,  279-291 
Moses,  85-127,  131-133 

Naaman,  257-260 
Nabal,  200-205 
Nahor,  35,  36,  39 
Naomi,  170-179 
Naphtali,  55,  149 
Nathan,  212-214 
Nebuchadnezzar,  295-310 
Nehemiah,  271,  272 
Noah,  12-18 
Nun,  132, 133,  136 

Obadiah,  238-240 
Obed,  179 
Orpah,  171 

Pharaoh,  63-71,  78-87,  89, 

93-116 
Potiphar,  61,  62,  65,  66 

Queen  of  Sheba,  229-231 

Rachel,  50-54,  178 
Rahab,  133-138,  139-141 
Rebekah,  34-41 
Reuben,  55,  57,  58,  71 
Reuel,  88 
Rizpah,  222,  223 
Ruth,  170-179 

Samson,  157,  159-168 
Samuel,  179-183,  200,  206- 
'  208 

Sanballat,  271,  272 
Saph    (Goliath's  brother), 
224 


326 


Sarah,  19,  26-29 
Saul,  186,  187,  190-199 
Shadrach    ( Hananiah ) , 

301-305 
Shem,  14 
Simeon,  55,  72 
Sisera,  148-150 
Solomon,  226-231 


INDEX 

Uriah,  209-214 

Vashti,  277-279 

Witch  of  Endor,  206-209 


Zebulnm,  55,  149 
Zedekiah,  274-276 
Zipporah,  88 


(1) 


